KATHMANDU, NOV 24 - The government has already spent over Rs. five billion for the UCPN (Maoist) People’s Liberation Army living in the United Nations monitored cantonments for the last three years.

The government spent Rs. 4 billion 787 million 858 thousand 740 through the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR) and the Central Direction and Coordination Committee on Cantonment for Maoist combatants, said an MoPR source. The cost of construction of huts, buildings, road, and supply of electricity, drinking water and communication sets was borne by MoPR in the first year the cantonments were set up. “If we add the expenditure of the line ministries that now look after cantonments, over Rs. 5.5 billion has been spent,” said the source.

The larger share of this amount is spent on the monthly allowance and food supplies.  During the tenure of the Maoist-led government last year, the monthly salary of the “verified combatants” was increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 and the daily ration cost was increased from Rs. 60 to between Rs. 72 and Rs. 110.

The government is going to spend Rs. 1.89 billion from the Peace Fund on cantonment management, said Fund director Durga Nidhi Sharma. Of this, Rs. 450 million will be spent on roads, Rs. 101.21 million on construction and repair of huts, Rs. 83.79 million on health and Rs. 36.65 million on drinking water. 

Despite the huge expenditure ,integration and rehabilitation of the 19,602 verified combatants and the discharge of  4,008 disqualified combatants are yet to make headway. The agreement between political parties had pledged to complete the integration and rehabilitation within six months. It was also agreed that the country would not bear responsibility for verified combatants who have not been integrated or rehabilitated after six months. But 18 months after the agreement, the Maoist party continues to command and control the combatants. 

THE COST OF UPKEEP

Year 2006/2007 2007/2008  2008/2009 2009/2010

Already spent (NRs) 991,386,436 1,035,893,723 2,929,349,120 548,545,400 

Posted on: 2009-11-24 09:47

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