Kathmandu: The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI) has sought a budget of Rs 113 billion from the government for the fiscal year 2022/23, which is Rs 10 billion more than the amount allocated in the current fiscal year.

According to the ministry, of the amount it projected, Rs 49 billion will be spent on the infrastructure projects being constructed under the domestic investments. Similarly, Rs 4 billion will be allocated for the foreign investment projects while Rs 60 billion will be allocated for the projects to be constructed under the foreign loans.

The MoEWRI allocates an average of 60-65 percent of its budget to Nepal Electricity Authority and its operated projects. This year, the power utility has received the annual budget of Rs 55 billion.

Despite the MoEWRI seeking enlarged budget size, its expense however has appeared slow almost every year. As of February end, the ministry has spent only 34 percent of Rs 103.93 billion allocated for the current fiscal year.