KMC allocates Rs 10 billion budget for infrastructure development

Kathmandu: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has proposed the highest budget of Rs 10 billion 800 million for the physical infrastructure sector.

Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi presented the budget of the metropolis for the upcoming fiscal year 2021/22 at the ninth convention of the municipal assembly on Thursday.

The KMC has proposed a total budget of Rs 18 billion 957 million 712 thousand for the next fiscal year. Out of the total budget, Rs 3 billion 757 million 700 thousand has been allocated towards the administrative expenses and office operation, Rs 550 million towards economic development sector, Rs 2 billion 700 million towards social development sector, Rs 10 billion 800 million towards infrastructure development and Rs 1 billion 150 million towards the good- governance and inter-related sectors.

Similarly, it is stated in the proposed budget that the KMC will bear 50 percent of the fees of the metropolis’ denizens under the Health Insurance Programme of the federal government. Likewise, a budget has been set aside for running the Metropolitan Special Hospital with specialized services catering to senior citizens.

Arrangements have been made for providing up to 90 percent concession on property tax. It has also announced a 50 percent tax discount if businesses like hotels, restaurants, and shops provided free services to the members of the general public in the use of toilets made for their use. The policies and programs of KMC were presented on June 20.

KMC had brought a budget of Rs 15 billion 500 million for the current fiscal year.

Like in the current fiscal year, the budget for the next fiscal year has prioritized prevention and control of COVID-19 and the treatment of infected people. It has focused on physical infrastructure development, waste management, gender equality and social inclusion, and on conservation of language, culture, and heritage.

It has also introduced the ‘Mayor Ujyalo Karyakram’ or the Mayor Brightness Programme, that includes prevention and control of COVID-19, construction of at least one public toilet in every ward of the metropolis, operating a model school in every ward and constructing at least one park in every ward. The budget also incorporates health care facilities to the senior citizens.