KATHMANDU

Birgunj Metropolis has collected nearly Rs 400 million in revenue in the last 10 months of the current fiscal year. It was able to collect Rs. 398 million. The revenue collected increased by Rs 31.8 million as compared to the same period of the last fiscal year.

Revenue division chief of Birgunj Metropolitan City Office, Manoj Karna, however, said they had aimed at collecting Rs 700 million in revenue; it has only been Rs 400 so far. The existing budget was revised last January. “The economic downturn caused a decline in trade activities, which has clearly impacted revenue collection,” he added.

Similarly, the Chief Administrative Officer at Metropolis, Matrika Bhattarai, informed me that although they had aimed at collecting Rs 500 as land tax in the current fiscal year, it was now difficult to meet the target. “It is because of the downturn in real estate business. We’re able to collect Rs 139 million so far,” he said, adding that it was difficult to manage resources owing to failure to meet the target of internal revenue.

The metropolis has been collecting inland revenue under 24 headings. Under the house rent, Rs 49 million was gained as revenue this year.