February 13: Majority of the National Pride Projects haven’t spent even 50 percent of the allocated budget in the current fiscal year. With six months left in the ongoing fiscal year, only Rs  13.98 billion has been spent out of Rs 92.6 million allocated for the national pride projects, according to the half-yearly budget review of 2020/21 unveiled by the Ministry of Finance.

A total of 25 national projects are currently running. Among them, the progress of Pokhara Regional International Airport, Mid-hill Highway, and Karnali Corridor is satisfactory. Of the 25 projects, Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project has only made an expenditure of Rs 2.12 billion.

The Mid-hill Highway project has spent Rs 1.76 billion of the allocated amount of Rs 8.27 billion. The Postal Highway has spent Rs 3.34 billion of Rs 7.1 billion. Kathmandu-Terai Fast track has spent Rs 1.23 billion of Rs 8.93 billion. Gautam Buddha International Airport has spent Rs 2.98 billion of Rs 4.72 billion. Nigadh International Airport has spent 50 million of 500 million. Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project spent Rs 1.8 billion of Rs 8.84 billion

These projects are lagging behind due to the unavailability of separate laws for the implementation of national pride projects. Also, the lack of skilled manpower and lack of construction materials have been the major hindrances for the project development. The report states that project execution starts before finalizing the project modality, while issues like land acquisition, compensation amount, rehabilitation of affected people and Detailed Project Report have also resulted in the delay in projects.

To increase the budget spending ,the report suggests to complete tasks of land acquisition, environment impact assessment, cutting of trees, and preparing DPR before the project starts.