KATHMANDU, Aug. 10 -- A total of 69 local governments have failed to announce their budgets on time this year despite the constitutional provisions that require these sub-national governments to introduce their annual budgets by June 24 (Asadh 10) every year.

According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, only 684 out of the 753 local governments have announced their budgets as of now. The remaining 69 local governments have not published their financial plan for 2022/23 even after over a month of the beginning of the current fiscal year.

Out of the local bodies breaching the state laws, 56 percent are from Madhesh Province. There are 136 local governments in this province and only 97 have announced their finan...