Nepal's budget ceiling is likely to reach Rs 880 billion following the 25 April earthquake that caused huge damages to physical infrastructures and properties.
The National Planning Commission (NPC) has increased the budget threshold by Rs 135 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation works. This is the highest budget ceiling so far.
"The upcoming budget will focus on reconstruction works," said NPC Vice Chair Govind Raj Pokhrel. At a program held by the Parliamentary Development Committee, he said increasing the budget ceiling was necessary in the aftermath of the earthquake. "We are now waiting for the approval of the finance ministry," he said.
However, Finance Secretary Suman Sharma said the budget ceiling will be determined by the Post Disaster Need Assessment, which is now being prepared by the NPC to plan post-earthquake reconstruction works. "We should not increase the budget threshold without proper ground works," he said. "We need to be realistic. We have been able to spend only 69 per cent of the budget in the current fiscal year."
The parliamentary committee meeting also instructed the government to strictly implement the Building Code as well as policy on soil test and quality of construction materials to minimise the risk in the future.