Image courtesy: Parichay

Deputy Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Manju Gurung had unveiled an estimated budget of NPR 6.27 billion for the next fiscal year 2021-22 at the ninth municipal assembly of Pokhara Metropolitan City, yesterday.The current budget for fiscal year 2020-21 stands at Rs 6.19 billion. Likewise, it was also mentioned in the budget announcement that Rs 92.8 million was sourced from the state government whereas Rs 2.22 billion from the internal revenue. Other than that, main highlights of the budget was the decision to allocate Rs 120 million for social development ,Rs 8 million for the search and management of new landfill site and Rs 3.36 billion  for the capital heading. She made it clear that Rs 2.90 billion would be utilised for the infrastructural development as well as Rs 30 million for COVID-19 prevention plan including upgrading quarantine wards,PCR facilities in the Covid designated hospitals too. Out of the total budget,about 1.42 billion was earmarked on education(22.7 per cent) followed by 400 million(6.4 cent),140 million (2.3 per cent) on health and agriculture sectors respectively. The budget also includes provision of exemptions from tariffs to the entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic , different roads connectivity as well as renewal of risk allowances to the frontline health workers .A sum of Rs 10 lakhs each was announced to be given to the flood-affected municipalities of Sidhupalanchwk and Helaumbu regions respectively.

Meanwhile,Mayor Man Bahadur GC on Wednesday presented the plans and policies wherin The metropolis had accorded top priority to improve the control of Coronavirus through well managed isolation wards, effective detail oriented PCR,mobilizing skilled manpower,and technology aided sound measures besides continuing the infrastructural development projects. Mayor GC laid focus on developing the road connectivity from Pokhara International Airport to Begnas Lake and Baidam respectively alongside  with the construction of the road section form Talchowk to Begnas Road with the help of World Bank.