Nepal, June 13 -- Provincial governments across Nepal are preparing to allocate billions of rupees for projects selected by lawmakers in the upcoming fiscal year, continuing a practice that critics say bypasses a Supreme Court ruling that halted the Constituency Development Fund.

The apex court ruled against the Fund amid widespread misuse. Although the court stopped the Constituency Infrastructure Development Programme, commonly known as the lawmakers' development fund, from fiscal year 2023-24, several provinces have continued allowing lawmakers to influence budgets by recommending projects for annual spending plans.

Sudurpashchim, Karnali, Lumbini and Bagmati provinces are preparing to incorporate projects chosen by provincial assemb...