Only small and fragmented projects are cancelled: Finance Minister Khanal

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal has said that only small and fragmented projects that do not give immediate economic benefits have been cancelled. As per the Cabinet meeting held on September 21, 2025, the Ministry of Finance had decided to cancel underprepared projects, projects that have not reached the procurement process, and projects which will not yield immediate returns.

Responding to queries from Bhuwan Bahadur Sunuwar of Nepali Communist Party in today’s meeting of the National Assembly, Minister Khanal clarified that the decision was taken because of budgetary pressure and a subsequent restructuring of priorities.

He said the pressure arose from the responsibility of arranging the necessary budget for the reconstruction of structures damaged during the Gen‑Z movement, to resume public services, to hold elections to the National Assembly and the House of Representatives, to revive the economy, and to provide relief to the injured and to the families of martyrs of the Gen‑Z movement.

Minister Khanal added that the process to prepare the draft of the Dalit Welfare, Rights and Development Bill has been accelerated to implement the rights of the Dalit community. A target has been set to present the bill in the next session of the Federal Parliament, he said, and preparations have been made to table it in the Cabinet within a month by following all necessary procedures.