Select needy projects: Finance Minister Poudel

Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has urged the province and local levels to select projects based on need and relevance.

Addressing the sixth meeting of the inter-government financial council on Thursday, Finance Minister Poudel stressed that long-term plan, management of land, environmental impact assessment (EIA), and resource management were prerequisites of project selection. The selection of projects without resources in place creates difficulty in implementation, he said, adding that the aspirations of people were however increased for development activities at all local, provincial and federal levels.

Poudel argued that the three layers of governments were not hostile but complementary to each other although there were contradictions in the use of limited resources. He urged the province and local levels to cooperate for the implementation of fiscal federalism.

The discussion was held on the occasion to complete incomplete projects, prioritize multi-year projects, maintain fiscal discipline and laws, and integrate the financial report of all three levels.

Similarly, the participants were for robust coordination and cooperation among all three layers of government for the control, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19, and remove duplicity in projects.

The officials from local and province levels suggested reform in the distribution of grants. The people's representatives from local levels urged the federal level to coordinate with local levels while selecting projects.

The virtual meeting was attended by ministers of financial affairs and planning at provinces, Secretary at Finance Ministry, Sishir Kumar Dhungana, Revenue Secretary Ramsharan Pudashaini, Financial Advisor to Minister, Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha, province secretaries, and representatives at local levels.