Nepal govt moves to identify and utilize idle public assets
Kathmandu: The government has initiated a comprehensive plan to identify and make use of unused public properties across the country.
A cabinet meeting on Tuesday directed all ministries to formulate strategies for assessing and utilizing government land, infrastructure, machinery, equipment, and other resources. The decision aims to address the growing concern over idle public assets, which have led to significant preservation costs without serving their intended purposes.
According to a government secretary present at the meeting, ministries will use the Public Assets Management System (PAMS) to update records of public lands and resources under their jurisdiction. These records will be submitted to the Office of the Controller General of Accounts and shared with the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has been tasked with compiling updated details of government vehicles. Meanwhile, the Financial Comptroller General Office will oversee the operationalization or reallocation of unused equipment to agencies that can utilize them.
Ministries will also be required to justify future purchases of machinery or equipment, ensuring that sufficient human resources and infrastructure are in place for their effective use.
The government’s move follows years of growing concern over the underutilization and abandonment of public assets due to improper planning, poor quality, or lack of utility. Many assets, including essential infrastructure, have remained idle or deteriorated because of inadequate policies and regulatory frameworks.
The Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2077 BS mandates the recording and inventory management of all government physical assets, requiring regular updates through the PIMS software developed by the Office of the Auditor General.