July 2: Out of 753 local levels, only 446 have been able to make public the budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24).    
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration informed that 307 municipalities failed to release the annual budget. According to the constitutional provision, the local levels are bound to release budget within Asar 10 every year as per the Nepali calendar. It showed that 42 percent of local levels failed to bring budget, according to spokesperson for the ministry, Kamal Prasad Bhattarai.    
"If budget is released after Asar 10, it is illegal. It flouts legal provision," Bhattarai stressed.    
In the Karnali Province, 63 municipalities out of 79 did not release the budget.    
Lumbini Province witnessed highest record in budget release at 73.4 percent. Only 29 municipalities out of 109 municipalities failed to abide by the law.    
Sudurpaschim Province witnessed budget announcements in 56.8 percent of local units.    
The Bagmati Province, which is the home to the federal capital, has been able to release budgets only at 63 local levels out of 129 local levels, which is 52.9 percent.    
Madhes Province's budget release stands at 42.6 percent. There are 136 local levels in this province.    
Spokesperson Bhattarai, however, said although some municipalities brought budgets, their information/data is yet to be entered in the ministry's system/website. -- RSS