Nepal’s largest local unit, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), on Sunday, unveiled a budget of Rs25.54 billion for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The budget for the next fiscal year has increased by Rs130 million from last year’s Rs25.41 billion.

The neighbouring Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC), too, unveiled its budget for the next financial year, totalling Rs6.5 billion, which is four times less than the KMC’s budget. Last year, the LMC had announced a budget of Rs6.35 billion.

The KMC’s budget was presented by the deputy mayor, Sunita Dangol, at its 13th municipal assembly.

In earlier years, the KMC had laid more emphasis on infrastructure development, but this time, it has reduced the allocation under the header. For the next fiscal year, the KMC has allocated Rs7 billion for infrastructure development, which is 29 percent of the total budget. Last year, it had allocated 49.9 percent of the total budget or Rs11.08 billion for infrastructure development.

The KMC has decided to give continuity to the maintenance of roads and footpaths. A detailed project report (DPR) for these has already been prepared, with Rs1 billion allocated for the work.

After receiving a large number of complaints regarding the ‘infrastructure ambulances’ (teams deployed for speedy road repairs) not being as effective as they should have been, Deputy Mayor Dangol has announced plans to build its own ‘asphalt plant’ to cover the potholes on the roads. Rs250 million has been allocated for setting up the plant.

After infrastructure, the KMC has allocated the second-highest amount to education. From its internal sources, the KMC has earmarked Rs1.32 billion under the education header. For the improvement of technical education, and promotion of vocational knowledge, Rs500 million has been allocated.

For the health sector, the KMC allocated Rs926 million. It also announced plans to operate an ‘affordable pharmacy’ for which it has allocated Rs600 million.

Likewise, it has set aside Rs300 million to recruit new employees on contract. Officials at the KMC said the additional manpower will be helpful to make its work more efficient. The city has plans to recruit 300 sweepers, 51 office helpers, 332 security guards, 269 health workers, and 151 municipal police personnel.

Also, the City has allocated Rs200 million to install CCTV cameras in back alleys.

The KMC has also allocated Rs40 million to prevent ‘urban flooding’. Another new thing in the annual budget plan is that the KMC will be opening its own ‘lab’ to test the use of pesticides in vegetables that are sold within the metropolis.

As well, the KMC has allocated Rs105 million to promote sports in all 32 wards, with the motto ‘one ward one sport hub.’

Like earlier years, this year too, the KMC has repeated its plan to restore and maintain historical stone spouts and monuments, and construct falcha (traditional public rest house) at various public places. Similarly, other repeated plans include solid waste management. Although last year the KMC had announced plans to segregate garbage at source and convert waste to energy in an attempt to solve the garbage problem, the plan couldn’t materialise. Other repeated plans and programmes are greenery promotion, women empowerment, erecting street lamps, preservation of tangible and intangible monuments within the KMC area and conservation and promotion of tourist areas in Kathmandu.

Speaking to the Post on the phone after unveiling the budget, Deputy Mayor Dangol said she is optimistic about the execution of their plans. “We need capacity development for our human resources. We have assigned a dedicated resource person to perform the task, as planned,” said Dangol.

She said this time the KMC has allocated its budget under two categories: pride projects and golden projects. “Under the pride projects, we are committed to completing the announced tasks during our tenures. We also want to give continuity to resolving the garbage problem,” said Dangol.

Almost all local units have unveiled their annual budget plans on Sunday.

“Except those who had technical problems, almost all local units unveiled their budget plans on Sunday. We will be able to give details on Monday,” said Kamal Prasad Bhattarai, joint secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.