The combined effect of defunct local bodies and political instability has badly hit development activities. More than half the development activities planned and being implemented by local bodies are in limbo. Sources from the Ministry of Local Development (MLD) say that less than half of the development budget allocated for the current fiscal year has been utilised and only two months of the current fiscal calendar is left. Statistics provided by the Evaluation and Monitoring Section of the MLD reveal that apart from a few priority projects, others used less than 40 percent of what they were allocated. In this situation, even high-priority sectors like district road networks are expected to receive only half of what they need. An official at the Evaluation and Monitoring Section claims that despite the simplification of budget release, modules lack accountability in the absence of elected representatives. The situation was exacerbated by the fear of Maoists. Despite food for development and west tarai poverty alleviation programs spending more than what they were allocated, the result would be less than expected. The local bodies could utilise only 25 percent of the allocated development budget in the first eight months of the year. It means that more about Rs 5.71 billion of the development budget will remain fallow.