Kathmandu July 2 : Out of 753 local levels, only 446 have been able to make public the budget for fiscal year, 2080/81. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has informed that 307 municipalities failed to release the annual budget. The local levels are bound to release budget within Asar 10 every year as per law.

It showed that 42 percent of local levels failed to bring budget, according to Spokesperson at ministry, Kamal Prasad Bhattarai. “If budget is released after Asar 10, it is illegal. It flouts legal provision,” Bhattarai stressed. In the Karnali Province, 63 municipalities out of 79 did not release the budget.

Similarly, 75.3 percent municipalities could not make public the budgets on time. Lumbini Province witnessed highest record in budget release- 73.4 percent. Only 29 municipalities out of 109 municipalities failed to abide by the law. Sudurpaschim Province has brought budgets in 56.8 percent local levels. The Bagmati Province, which homes the federal capital, has been able to release budgets only at 63 local levels out of 129 local levels, which is 52.9 percent. Madhes Province’s budget release stands at 42.6 percent.

There are 136 local levels in this province. Spokesperson Bhattarai, however, said although some municipalities brought budgets, their information/data is yet to be entered in ministry’s system/website.