Sudurpaschim lawmakers have been lobbying to increase the budget bracket under the Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Programme in the upcoming budget. After the federal government decided to allocate Rs 60 million to each lawmaker in its annual budget, the provincial lawmakers have been urging the government to dole out Rs 50 million for constituency development.

The lawmakers of almost all the political parties in the Provincial Assembly are pressuring the government to increase the budget. The provincial government has allocated Rs 20 million to the lawmakers under the Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Programme in the current fiscal year.

“The budget should be on par with the amount allocated to the federal lawmakers. If it is not possible, at least Rs 50 million should be managed for the provincial lawmakers,” said a lawmaker of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).

The provincial lawmakers have intensified their lobbying to increase the budget.

“Discussions are underway regarding the amount of budget under the Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Programme. The lawmakers have been demanding Rs 50 million,” said Tara Lama Tamang, the NCP chief whip.

Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Rana Bahadur Rawal claimed that his party did not lobby for a hike in the budget. However, he added that there was nothing wrong in seeking an increment in the budget under the Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Programme.

“The voters are concerned about development in their regions. Increasing the budget under the programme will be helpful to the locals, if it is properly utilised,” he added.