Monday, June 10, 2013

Low spending causes government treasury to swell



The government has been able to spend only about half of the budget till June 3, even as the fiscal year draws to a close, with just 42 days remaining.
Failure on the part of top five ministries, which consume 71 per cent of the capital expenditure, in spending the development budget has not only swelled government treasury by Rs 60 billion but also has contained the total spending by more than half of the total budget, according to Finance Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi.
Though, low spending has swelled the government treasury, it might fuel liquidity crunch in the market, if the situation continues like a couple of years back. Likewise, the last minute expenditure could neither guarantee quality development works nor financial discipline.
Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Ministry of Irrigation, and Ministry of Health and Population consume some 71 per cent budget, whereas some 12 ministries, including the top five, consume 89 per cent of the total budget.
However, their low spending capacity and also due to delayed budget is going to make government budget surplus of around a quarter of the budget.
Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has been able to spend only 35.99 per cent; Ministry of Urban Development 42.47 per cent; Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction 30.91 per cent; Ministry of Irrigation 56.18 per cent; and Ministry of Health and Population 45.44 per cent of their capital budget that is meant for development activities.
“Government’s total capital expenditure stood at 39.09 per cent only by June 3,” he said, adding that the government has been able to spend only Rs 25.85 billion of the total Rs 66.13 billion capital budget.
Likewise, the total government spending including capital and recurrent expenditures also stood at only a little over half the budget for the current fiscal year Rs 404.82 billion. “The government has been able to spend only Rs 230.66 billion — by last Monday — that is 56.98 per cent only including the capital and recurrent expenditures,” Subedi said.
Similarly, Ministry of Urban Development has been able to spend only 36.20 per cent of the total budget, including capital and recurrent expenditures, whereas Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has been able to spend only 39.41 per cent of the total budget allocated to them, according to the ministry.
Election Commission has spent the least budget — including capital and recurrent budget — at 6.18 per cent, followed by Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (34.91 per cent), Ministry of Urban Development (36.20 per cent), Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (39.41 per cent), and Ministry of Cooperatives and poverty Alleviation (40.09 per cent).

Top five highest spenders of capital budget
1. President (73.07 per cent)
2. Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (65.30 per cent)
3. Ministry of Land Reforms and Management (61.13 per cent)
4. Ministry of General Administration (59.17 per cent)
5. Ofice of Attorney General
(Source: Finance Ministry)

Top five lowest spenders of capital budget
1. Council of Justice (2.06 per cent)
2. Prime Minister and Council of Minister's Office (2.18 per cent)
3. Office of the Auditor General (2.83 per cent)
4. Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (6.62 per cent)
5. National Planning Commission Secretariate (10.84 per cent)
(Source: Finance Ministry)

Top five highest spenders of total budget
1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (86pc)
2. Public Service Commission (83.34pc)
3. Ministry of General Administration (82pc)
4. Ministry of Home (81.61pc)
5. Ministry of Defence (80.80pc)
(Source: Finance Ministry)

Top five lowest spenders of total budget
1. Election Commission (6.18pc)
2. Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (34.91pc)
3. Ministry of Urban Development (36.20pc)
4. Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (39.41pc)
5. Ministry of Cooperatives and poverty Alleviation (40.09pc)
(Source: Finance Ministry)

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