Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has told provincial and local government representatives to prioritise development projects based on their necessary while preparing the budget for the next fiscal year.

Paudel, who is in rush to finalise the annual budget plan of the country to present it in the House of Representatives on May 29, met the representatives during a meeting of the Intergovernmental Finance Council in Kathmandu on Thursday. The minister asked them to consider the master plan, land acquisition, environmental impact assessment and resource management among other issues too while prioritising the projects.

Paudel stressed the three layers of the government should work together in close coordination and it would be important in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic also.

Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel attends a meeting of the Intergovernmental Financial Council in Kathmandu, on Thursday, April 22, 2021.

Meanwhile, the provincial and local level officials suggested the federal government improve its grant distribution system and coordinate with the local units while selecting federal projects also.