Energy Ministry's financial progress only 3.08 percent in two and a half months

Kathmandu — The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has achieved a financial progress of just 3.08 percent in the first two and a half months of the current fiscal year. Citing this low progress, Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha directed subordinate bodies to immediately accelerate budget and program implementation during a review meeting held on Wednesday.

Minister Shrestha stressed the need to end the tradition of spending the budget only at the end of the fiscal year. He said, "We must create an environment where the system works, not individuals." He instructed that projects be advanced by preparing clear work schedules and calling tenders and signing contracts on time.

Noting that failing to fulfill responsibilities on time is also a matter of accountability, Minister Shrestha said that along with political leadership, the bureaucratic mechanism must be accountable to the people. He also directed that coordination among the ministry, departments, and subordinate bodies be increased, and that a review of the work done in the approximately six months since the government was formed be conducted to set the future course of action.

The meeting was informed that the newly appointed Secretary Dr. Jagadishwar Karmacharya said that relevant divisions and bodies of the ministry must be activated to improve capital expenditure.

The meeting provided information on the ministry's work so far:

• Two bills related to water resources and renewable energy submitted to the Cabinet
• Legal opinions on 76 subjects
• Penalty actions on 12 subjects
• The concept of forming the Budhi Gandaki Development Authority advanced
• Drafts of the Electricity Regulations and Electricity Trade Regulations
• Drafts of the Energy Bill and the Electricity and Energy Policy