COVID-19 control, disaster management top priorities

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, July 13 Tokha Municipality in Kathmandu has set priorities for containment of COVID-19 crisis and disaster management in the
budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The municipality that is located in the northern belt of Kathmandu unveiled a budget for Rs 1.58
billion for the fiscal year 2020-21
The local government has allocated Rs 1.44 billion under capital expenditure while Rs 141.5 million has been announced as recurrent
expenditure. According to Mayor Prakash Adhikari, Rs 20 million has been appropriated for the coronavirus containment efforts and Rs 10
million for disaster management. &Control of global pandemic of COVID-19 and response to disaster likely to occur at different times were
our major concerns while formulating budget for the upcoming fiscal year,&& the mayor shared. The municipality has announced Rs 9.5 million
for maintenance, Rs 5 million for sports development followed by Rs 4 million for forestry, environment and sanitation fund and Rs 1.5
million for the health sector. Similarly, Rs 2.5 million is meant for undertaking culture conservation efforts, Rs 500 thousand for human
resource development and Rs one million for the protection of public land
Similarly Rs 3 million was released for implementing women development programmes. Rs 5 million has been allocated under the heading of
agricultural development and Rs 3 million for livestock development. Cooperatives development is featured as one of the targets of budget as
Rs 3 million has been announced for the same. The municipality has allocated Rs 20 million for municipal partnership programme and Rs one
million for the operation of basic examinations. Deputy Mayor Gyan Maya Dangol said socio-economic development, infrastructure development,
agriculture, education, health, tourism promotion, conservation of cultural heritages and issues concerning women and children are other
areas of special focus in the municipalitybudget. A version of this article appears in e-paper on July 14, 2020, of The Himalayan Times. The
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