Record revenue collection but government fails to spend Rs 25 billion for development works

The Finance Ministry has managed to collect record revenue during the month of Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April), exceeding its target.
The ministry collected 39.3 per cent higher revenue at Rs 98.67 billion as per year-on-year record. When Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai tabled his maiden budget on September 19 last year, the revenue target of Rs 147.72 billion was billed ambitious. The budget for the current fiscal stands at Rs 236.15 billion. “The collection has touched Rs 98.67 billion in only nine months. It has exceeded the target, which was pegged at Rs 93 billion,” said Krishna Hari Baskota, acting revenue secretary. He attributed the “good show” to able leadership, growing control over corruption and a cordial relationship between the Maoist-led government and private sector. “The private sector has been supportive. While, the record collection suggests that the environment is business friendly,” he added.
Earlier in Falgun, the ministry mopped up 38.6 per cent of revenue.Despite the impressive collection, the ruling coalition has failed to utilise the sum for development work, which in turn has taken its toll on the GDP growth. “Consequently, the income generation will be hit hard, leading to spiralling unemployment,” explained Dr Shanker Sharma, former vice-president, National Planning Commission (NPC).
The Finance Minister has affirmed of giving top priority to more employment opportunities in the next budget.
“But if the government goes on a spending spree in the last quarter of this fiscal, then it may encourage inefficiency,” he added. Though the treasury has Rs 25 billion, it is lying idle for months.