The budget for fiscal year 2083/84 has sparked debate after Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle allocated a significant number of infrastructure projects to his home district, Tanahun. While every elected representative naturally seeks development for their constituency, the scale and number of projects included in the national budget have raised concerns about whether the federal budget is once again being used to prioritize local interests over national priorities.
The issue is not necessarily the projects themselves. Roads, bridges, tourism infrastructure, and disaster mitigation projects are all important for local development. However, critics argue that many of the projects included are relatively small in scale and could have been planned and implemented through provincial or local governments rather than being financed directly from the federal budget.
A Long List of Roads and Bridges
The budget includes funding for numerous roads, bridges, feasibility studies, tourism routes, and urban infrastructure projects across Tanahun. Several tourism roads have received allocations of NPR 5 crore each, while dozens of bridge projects have been assigned amounts ranging from NPR 10 lakh to NPR 5 crore.
Beyond transport infrastructure, urban development programs have also directed substantial resources toward the district. Multiple municipalities and rural municipalities in Tanahun have received dedicated road-upgrading budgets, while specific local infrastructure projects have secured separate federal allocations.
One of the most notable allocations is NPR 24.78 crore for the development of the Bhanu Literary Garden project, an initiative that has long attracted interest from President Ram Chandra Paudel.
Old Practice, New Government
Successive governments have faced criticism for concentrating development spending in the home districts of powerful ministers. Previous finance ministers were often accused of prioritizing their constituencies through budget allocations, and many expected the new government to move away from this practice.
Instead, the latest budget appears to have revived concerns about politically driven spending. Development experts have repeatedly argued that the federal government should focus on large national projects, strategic infrastructure, energy, and productivity-enhancing investments, while smaller local projects should be handled by provincial and municipal governments.
The inclusion of dozens of relatively small projects in the federal budget suggests that Nepal continues to struggle with this transition.
Development vs. Fragmentation
Supporters of the allocations argue that Tanahun sits at the center of several important national transport corridors and requires significant infrastructure upgrades. They also note that many of the projects connect districts, support tourism, and improve regional connectivity.
Critics, however, point to the fragmentation of resources. Instead of concentrating funds on a few transformative projects, the budget spreads money across numerous small schemes, many of which receive only modest allocations. Such projects often face delays, cost overruns, and repeated budget requests in future years.
This approach can weaken the overall effectiveness of public investment and contribute to Nepal's long-standing problem of low capital expenditure.
The Bigger Question
The controversy ultimately raises a broader question about Nepal's budgeting culture. Should federal resources continue to finance small local roads, bridges, and municipal projects, or should they be redirected toward nationally significant infrastructure capable of generating stronger economic returns?
As Nepal seeks to accelerate economic growth, improve public investment efficiency, and address chronic under-spending on development projects, the answer to that question may be more important than any individual allocation in the budget.
The Tanahun allocations have therefore become more than just a local development issue—they have reignited a national debate about how Nepal's federal budget should be structured and whose priorities it should serve.
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