Kathmandu – Finance Minster Bishnu Prasad Poudel unveiled the Rs. 1.048 Trillion budget today of which Rs. 2.4 billion has been allocated to Ministry of Youth and Sport amid doubts of implementation. The sports budget is increased by 30% compared to the previous fiscal year.
Like previous years building sports infrastructures – cricket stadiums in particular has been given top priority. “The construction of Mulpani, Bhairahawa and Dhangadhi will be completed in 3 years”, announced Poudel during the budget speech. “Construction works for new Cricket Stadium in Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Dhanusha, Morang, Dang, Surkhet and Parsa will also be initiated”, he added.
Budget has been allocated for construction “international standard” stadium at Lakhanpur of Jhapa and Kathmandu which will start next year and also for necessary physical infrastructure for the 13th South Asian Game to be organized in Nepal in 2018 AD.
Rs. 200 million has been allocated for 7th National Games for next year.
The sports budget is almost continuation of previous year and stakeholders have expressed doubts about its implementation especially the 7th National Games. National games which are supposed to be an annual event has not been held since 2012.