KATHMANDU, Jan. 7: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Badri Prasad Mandal chaired the quarterly progress evaluation and ministry-level problem resolution committee meeting of the Local Development Ministry here today.

According to a report presented on the occasion, only 58 per cent of the annual allocated amount was spent in the target period and the overall physical achievement was below 60 per cent.

Apart from renovation and maintenance, a total of 2,046 kilometres of rural road was constructed in Fiscal Year 2001/02.

Lack of coordination in projects run by the donor agencies, delay in allocation of budgets and absence of regular monitoring were some of the reasons pointed out as factors hindering target achievement.
On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Mandal said as the country is going through a difficult phase and local bodies are running without people’s representatives, the civil servants should continue their work in a more efficient manner.

Directing officials to respond to the demands of the time and allocate budgets for places where implementation of development programmes is feasible, the Deputy Prime Minister also stressed the need for a regular monitoring system.

Assistant Minister for Local Development Dr Asarfi Shah, the Local Development Secretary and National Planning Commission member Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada also expressed their views.

Reports from the National Planning Commission, the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of General Administration were presented at the meeting.