KATHMANDU, 28 April, 2021 (TON): The lawmakers are looking for the continuation of the controversial Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Program in the new fiscal year as the government is busy finalizing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The program allows directly-elected lawmakers to use millions of rupees in their constituencies in consultation with the respective local governments has led to controversy for its scattered allocations mainly to unproductive sectors.

A total of Rs 6.6 billion has been allocated under the program in the current fiscal year with 165 electoral constituencies receiving Rs 40 million each.

While allocating the budget, the government said the lawmakers would be using the budget to tackle the pandemic and on the health sector.

“Most of the budget has gone towards road construction while there has been investment in the construction of temples as well,” Dilaram Panthi, the chief of the Local Level Coordination Section at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and the General Administration said.

He added, “Very limited money has gone towards Covid-19 response.”

However, Covid-19 response wasn’t in the priority of the lawmakers when they selected the projects.