Progress on government-set annual targets and milestones dismal

Kathmandu- The work progress of government-set annual activities and milestones for the last year 2080/81 were found dismal.

According to the ‘annual report of policy and main functions, fiscal year 2080/81’ made public by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), only 42 percent of the activities and 48.5 percent of the milestone set for the fiscal year were completed. “Out of a total of 1,600 activities included in the action plan of 27 different agencies for the fiscal year 2080/81; 41.7 per cent were completed. Similarly, out of the total 3,421 milestones, 48.5 per cent were met; 40.5 per cent are in operation and 11 per cent are yet to start”, the report said.

The report mentioned that among a total of 414 activities determined by the government in the economic sector last year, 167 were completed, 229 are in operation and 19 are yet to start. “Of the total 500 activities in the infrastructure sector, 109 were completed, 374 are in operation and 17 are yet to start”, the report reads. Of the 392 activities stipulated for governance reforms, 211 were completed, 154 are in operation and 27 are yet to start. Similarly, a total of 293 activities were stated in the social sector, out of which 181 were completed, 105 partially completed and seven are yet to start. Of the 1,600 activities scheduled annually, 668 (41.4 per cent) were completed, 662 (53.9 per cent) are in operation and 70 (4.4 per cent) have yet to start.

Similarly, out of the total 3,441 milestones set, 1,659 or 48.5 per cent were completed, 1,385 or 40.5 per cent partial progress achieved and 377 or 11 per cent milestones have not started. According to the report, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration remained the highest scorer in achievement with the highest 87 per cent and the Ministry of Urban Development the lowest with nine per cent. The Public Procurement Office also was found the second lowest performing government agency with 21 percent. Likewise, the Ministry of Finance was also found weak in performance with 29 percent.

Lack of human resources and change in the project chief and leadership has been presented the reasons behind not completing 103 milestones. As many as 82 milestones were unmet due to lack of the legal, procedural and procedural basis while 65 milestones not completed with problems in land acquisition as stated in the report. The report noted that 48 milestones could not be completed due to disputes and legal complications, 44 due to delays by contractors and consultants, 26 due to restructuring of plans and programmes, 14 due to disasters and adverse weather, five due to problems in supply of construction materials and 20 due to other reasons.