Bagmati Province Government Faces Challenges in Budget Formulation Amidst Leadership Vacuum in Policy and Planning Commission

Makwanpur. The Bagmati Province Government is in the midst of preparing the policy and program and budget for the upcoming fiscal year (2083/84). However, the body responsible for recommending long-term goals, roadmaps, policies, and plans with a far-reaching vision for the overall prosperity of the province, and for formulating strategies, policies, and plans in areas such as economic development, social development, physical infrastructure, water resources and energy, and other natural resources, human resource management, good governance, and management, is without officials.

Since the formation of the new government on August 5, and Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniyan taking office, officials have not been appointed to the Province Policy and Planning Commission. With the formation of the government, the then Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Gangadatta Nepal, and members Dr. Dipendra Shrestha and Gunaraj Moktan, were removed from their posts. Officials have not been appointed to the commission yet. With the commission being without leadership during the crucial budget preparation period, it is estimated that this could have a direct impact on plan formulation and research.