July 21: The Finance Ministry has issued an 81-point guideline for the effective implementation of the budget for the fiscal year 2080/081 BS. The guidelines focus on maximizing resource utilization, being economical on expenses, and ensuring effectiveness and efficiency. Fiscal discipline is also emphasized.

Government institutions are directed to complete preparatory jobs for the implementation of annual plans and programs. They must formulate new procedures, directives, and standards within a month if they were to seek an approval from the Ministry. Approved procedures should be updated on the agencies' websites within a week.

Tenders should be called within the first three months of the fiscal year, and the contract agreement should be completed by mid-November, with work commencing within 15 days. Projects failing to carry out the contract agreement within nine months after resource assurance may face automatic scrapping.

Projects that haven't gone into bidding after nine months of the agreement and haven't been proposed for appropriations in the current fiscal year budget may also have their source agreements scrapped.

The implementation of certain programs is recommended to be carried out by thematic committees, and 'reward' and 'punishment' culture in the construction business is encouraged.

Projects worth over Rs 100 million are recommended for undergoing construction quality tests by the National Vigilance Centre. Payments are suggested to be made based on physical progress and project quality. Certain conditions are set for quarterly budget releases.

Environment impact assessment and preliminary environment tests should be carried out within fixed timeframes to facilitate project implementation. Multi-year contracted projects should be implemented from the allocated budget itself.

Organization and management surveys should be conducted before mid-December to improve the existing organization of public administration.

Budget implementers are asked to maintain utmost frugality in administrative expenses, including allowance, training, seminar, service fee, visit, stationery, maintenance, fuel, electricity tariff, and rent. (RSS)