An International Monetary Fund (IMF) technical assistance mission, led by Jonathan Pampolina, successfully concluded its scoping visit to Kathmandu yesterday (January 21).
The 10-day mission, which began on January 12, was conducted at the request of the Nepali authorities to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive Governance and Corruption Diagnostic (GCD).
The diagnostic is designed to identify governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities that are critical to Nepal’s macroeconomic stability. The final goal is to create a prioritized and sequenced action plan to strengthen the country's state functions and integrity.
What are the focus areas of the diagnostic?
The mission utilized the IMF 2018 Enhanced Governance Framework to target core state functions, specifically focusing on Fiscal Governance, Financial Sector Oversight, Rule of Law, strengthening anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism and Anti-Corruption Framework.
The IMF team held extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of state institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the Supreme Court, and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). To ensure a holistic perspective, the mission also met with business associations, civil society organizations, and international development partners.
The IMF staff praised the Nepali government's commitment to the diagnostic process. A full GCD mission is scheduled for the coming months to finalize reform recommendations. The process will culminate in a comprehensive report analyzing the severity of corruption and providing a roadmap for reforms intended to boost Nepal’s economic outcomes and institutional resilience.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
IMF sets stage for major anti-corruption reform plan in Nepal
Monday, July 14, 2025
Nepal's biggest 'match-fixing' mess: When the referee is also a player
Controversial appointments in regulatory bodies increase workload of CIAA and the Supreme Court
What happens, if a referee sides with one team in a football match or referee starts scoring goals oneself or a referee allows one team or a particular player to score goal with hand, or allows make illegal tackle?
Disaster!
In such a case, not only the referee is banned but the game of football is also banned, and the whole stadium comes down infuriated, and protest the rigging. In few football-crazy nations, referees and players have even been attacked on the field by the fans.
And that’s what happening in Nepal’s economy. Even worse, in Nepal many a times, referee and player become the same person.
A free market and a football game may seem worlds apart but both operate on the same basis of competition, rules, and performance.
In a football game, two teams compete against each other to score goals and win the match. Similarly, in a free market, various companies compete to offer better goods and services to attract consumers and generate profit. The objective, in both systems, is to outperform rivals – by scoring more goals in football or by winning over more customers in market – but both play by rules, and books.
In a market economy, the players are private sector, and the referee is the regulatory body. For the economy to operate, the regulator must be independent, impartial, competent, and uphold high ethical standards, just like a fair football referee.
If the regulator is free, impartial with high moral – apart from having the required qualification – it can guide the market through free and fair competitive practice, otherwise, it will be a disaster.
Like the referee is solely responsible to make the game disciplined, fair and competitive, the regulator is responsible to make the market disciplined, free, fair and competitive.
Thus, both systems rely on rules and referees. In football, the game is governed by clear rules enforced by referees, ensuring fair play and penalizing fouls.
Similarly, in a market economy, laws and regulatory institutions play a similar role – ensuring fair competition, enforcing contracts, and preventing malpractices like fraud or monopolies, or conflict of interest.
Just as bad refereeing ruins a football match, poor regulation destroys markets. If regulators don’t play their role or start bending the rules or flexing muscle, the market system collapses. That’s precisely what is happening in Nepal.
When regulators shirk their responsibilities or manipulate rules, short-term gains may go to interest groups like the 'Thermal Gun Gang', but the entire economy has to bear the cost, in the long-term.
Thus, Nepal’s current economic issues didn’t arise overnight. Vested interest groups, empowered by political parties and their leaders, have been manipulating the rules, cheating the system, and sidelining genuine players, leading to the present crisis. It’s a systemic problem – a result of deep-rooted collusion between vested interested groups, rent-seekers, and political actors.
Just like referees in football don’t control how players move or pass, market regulators also don’t direct how businesses operate neither do they take part in the competition; they simply ensure the rules are followed or not.
But in Nepal, referee dictate the player how to play, and in some cases, also move the goal post or manipulate the size of the goal post, and change the rule of the game after the players enter the play-ground. That too, in the order of vested interested groups like ‘Thermal Gun Gang’.
The concept of a market system is being distorted into a free-for-all in Nepal as these vested groups (mis)use regulatory institutions to instruct businesses on how to operate – instead of ensuring free, fair and competitive environment – and protect their own vested interests. Like a referee telling players how to play football, the economy is now under stress due to such regulatory interference.
As a result, in Nepal, not only entrepreneurs but also ordinary people, who follow rules, are increasingly seen as fools. The narrative being set – of course by vested interests, political parties, and even the bureaucracy – is that ‘breaking rules’ is smartness and obeying the law and order is stupidity.
In a society, where flouting laws is celebrated and thought heroic, democracy, freedom of expression, and entrepreneurship become a joke. Cheaters become leaders; and honest ones die hungry.
However, there is an important difference between football game and market too. A football game usually has one winner and the other loser, after a fixed time period, making it a zero-sum contest. In contrast, the market allows all to win – a business can succeed by creating value, and consumers also benefit from getting better quality products and services in cheaper price, and the government also benefits as it gets more revenue.
Nepali market has also seen and experienced such benefits, be it in the case of telecom sector or aviation services. After the entry of Ncell in the market, Nepal Telcom’s service and quality improved and prices came down making it accessible to more people. Both the players, Ncell and Nepal Telecom, generated good profit, consumers got cheaper and better-quality service, and the government also received more revenue.
Similarly, after the autonomy of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) have been encouraged to play fair and competitive. Despite being autonomous and the most successful and professional regulator in Nepal, Nepal Rastra Bank is, also sometimes mired into controversies, let alone other regulators like Securities Board Nepal (SEBON), Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA), Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which are neither autonomous nor able to reflect any professional and impartial character.
Even worse lately, the appointments in these regulators have been controversial due to political interference, lack of transparency in selection process and compromise in accountability mechanisms.
Moreover, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is flooded with complaints – with proofs – and the Supreme Court is busy with such cases claiming that the appointments are rigged.
CIAA is currently investigating into a complaint alleging that the work experience documents submitted by the chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) Bhupendra Bhandari are fake. The complaint, filed by a civil society group working on good governance, claims that the documents Bhandari submitted during his appointment process are forged. The group submitted the complaint to the CIAA along with the related documents.
Similarly, the CIAA has also started the investigation into the work experience documents submitted by the chairman of Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) Sarad Ojha. Ojha’s alleged fake work experience documents’ case is also under consideration of Supreme Court. After the CIAA probe, the Finance Ministry is also trying to relieve him or suspend him to escape the CIAA further probe.
Nepal Insurance Authority, as a regulator, lost credibility among stakeholders, especially at a time when the insurance sector is under pressure to merge, digitize, and follow stricter compliance rules, and to build confidence of the sector that has immense scope for growth.
The appointment of NIA chairman Ojha allegedly bypassed the standard open competition and recommendation procedure outlined in law (as per the Insurance Act and public official selection norms), apart from the alleged forged work experience documents. The forgery of government documents is a serious offence. “Government document forgery is a criminal offence that attract cash and jail term both,” according to advocate Jagdish Dahal.
And the Finance Ministry’s delay in taking action against such serious allegation is strengthening the voices of critics, who claim the appointment was politically motivated and intended to bring someone pliable to the chair, particularly as the Nepal Insurance Authority was overseeing major issues like disputes over reinsurance monopoly, insurance mergers and policy reforms.
The Insurance Act (2079 BS) mandates at least five years of high-level managerial experience in related sector and a minimum age of 35 years. Critics claim Ojha did not meet these criteria, as he was only 33 at the time of appointment, and worked part-time as an insurance agent and college lecturer, not as a senior manager.
Likewise, a complaint filed with the CIAA alleges Ojha submitted fabricated work-experience certificates, including managerial roles at a media house to meet eligibility. A Supreme Court writ petition mirrored these claims, urging annulment of the appointment based on deceitful documentation.
After his appointment, Ojha, in April 2025, modified a directive concerning foreign employment insurance pools delaying equitable fund distribution by one year, reversing a decision by his predecessor Surya Prasad Silwal. The parliamentarians from CPN (Maoist Centre) called for a parliamentary investigation into his appointment and amendments, accusing the government of abusing its authority.
However, the Supreme Court issued show-cause notices on Ojha’s appointment, but no final verdict or restraint has been issued yet. The Court is examining the legal validity of documentation and the cabinet’s authority in superseding statutory criteria, which signals signs of deeper governance failures in appointment of regulatory institutions.
Likewise, the controversies in appointments in regulatory institutions do not stop here. The CAAN and SEBON chairmen’s controversies have become regular headlines eroding institutional credibility, increased investor and public distrust, and suggesting the institutional capture by the vested interested groups, also called middlemen by public, like ‘Thermal Gun Gang’.
The accusation that certain vested interested groups like ‘Thermal Gun Gang’ and political actors wanted to weaken the regulatory authority so they could operate with less scrutiny – especially amid rising complaints about irregularities in actions by the regulators in the financial sector.
Thus, Ojha’s appointment, like other recent regulator placements, is viewed as politically motivated and aimed at installing loyalists, circumventing meritocracy, which fits a broader pattern: appointments in SEBON and NTA.
Similarly, the SEBON chairman Santosh Narayan Shrestha’s act of approving Initial Public Offering (IPO) of companies with dubious fundamentals and no clear ownership like Trade Tower Ltd, and asking commission to approve the IPOs of hydropower companies in pipeline, is the case of capital market distortions and exploitation of largely unsupervised capital markets.
Apart from that fast-tracking the IPO approval of Bungal hydropower, a company with Shrestha’s personal investment, is a clear case of conflict of interest, and a case study – for Nepal’s intelligentsia – where the referee and player is the same person.
Thus, the Finance Committee under the Parliament, on Thursday, sought explanation on approval of Bungal Hydro, and also Shrestha’s suspicious determination to award license to the second stock exchange without reforming the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse).
Though Shrestha tried to explain in Finance Committee on Thursday that he did not ask for commission to approve the IPO, but the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), institutionally and individual energy entrepreneurs have been accusing him of sending his henchmen to bargain for commission for IPO approval.
Moreover, another complaint against the SEBON chair Shrestha is also registered at the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) and CIAA.
However, the appointment controversy at the regulatory institutions is emblematic of a larger systemic issue, and it’s not overnight.
Inexperienced, politically aligned appointees undermine regulatory bodies’ technical competence and independence, which in the long run, erode business confidence, and pull the country down towards degrowth.
Both the market and football thrive on competition, skill, rules, and accountability, and of course the referee’s or the regulator’s operation. While one plays out on the field and the other in the economy, both reflect the importance of fair play, innovation, and strategic thinking in achieving success.
Thus, the nexus between vested interested groups – often operating as middlemen or power brokers like ‘Thermal Gun Gang’ – and politicians in Nepal has had a corrosive effect on regulatory institutions, weakening the rule of law, distorting economic incentives, and undermining business confidence.
The crowding out of genuine entrepreneurs – new or non-aligned businesses – who will always remain struggling to compete with cronies getting favourable rules and inside information, distorting the market, will lead to the market failure, and economic collapse.
That’s why vested interested groups-political networks lobby against laws that threaten their rent-seeking positions like competition law, digital payments regulation, anti-money laundering measures, and conflict of interest.
They try to block independent oversight, audit, or regulatory modernization, which will distract legitimate investors including foreign direct investment (FDI) as it will be too risky and unpredictable business environment to invest in Nepal. And such worse condition promotes outmigration of capital and talent.
The capture of regulatory institutions by a nexus of vested interested groups like ‘Thermal Gun Gang’ and politicians create a toxic ecosystem in economy that breeds corruption, inefficiency, and distrust, eroding the foundations of the economy.
Thus, restoring business confidence in Nepal requires independent regulatory bodies, strong conflict-of-interest laws, transparent procurement and IPO processes, depoliticization of the bureaucracy, and active civil society and investigative journalism. Unless systemic reform breaks this alliance, Nepali economy risks prolonged stagnation and a deeper legitimacy crisis.
(Published at Nepalkhabar on July 14 -- https://en.nepalkhabar.com/news/detail/14612/)
Thursday, July 10, 2025
खेलाडी पनि आफैँ, रेफ्री पनि आफैँ : नेपालमा चलिरहेको सबैभन्दा ठूलो ‘म्याच–फिक्सिङ’
नियामक निकायमा धमाधम सेटिङका मान्छे भर्दै सरकार, अख्तियार र सर्वोच्चको काम बढेको बढ्यै
मानौँ, फुटबल खेलमा रेफ्रीले एउटा टिमको पक्षमा निर्णय गर्यो वा रेफ्री आफैले गोल हान्न थाल्यो वा रेफ्रीले कुनै एक टिमलाई हातले गोल गर्न वा गलत ट्याकल गर्न छुट दियो भने के हुन्छ?
खेलको बरबाद!
यस्ता निकृष्ट क्रियाकलाप गर्ने हो भने त्यस्तो व्यक्ति प्रतिबन्धित मात्र हुँदैनन्, रंगशालामा खेल हेर्न आएका सम्पूर्ण खेलप्रेमी दर्शक पनि आक्रोशित हुन्छन्, विरोध गर्दछन्। अझ फुटबलको उन्मादी प्रशंसक भएका देशहरूमा त रेफ्री र खेलाडीहरूमाथि मैदानमै आक्रमण पनि भएका छन्।
हो, नेपालको अर्थतन्त्रमा पनि अहिले त्यस्तै हुँदैछ। नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र त्यस्तो फुटबल खेलजस्तै बनिसकेको छ, जहाँ रेफ्री आफै खेलाडी हुने गरेका छन्। नेपालमा रेफ्री पनि आफै, खेलाडि पनि आफै कसरी भइरहेका छन् अलि पछि व्याख्या गरौँला, पहिला बजार के हो र कसरी चल्छ– हेरौँ।
बजार अर्थतन्त्रमा खेलाडी निजी क्षेत्र हो भने रेफ्री नियामक निकाय हो। त्यसैले अर्थतन्त्रमा विकृति नल्याउन नियामक स्वतन्त्र, निष्पक्ष र आवश्यक योग्यतासहित उच्च नैतिकता भएको चरित्रवान् हुनुपर्छ। फुटबल खेलमा रेफ्रीले झैँ नियामकले पनि स्वतन्त्र र निष्पक्ष तथा प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक अभ्यासमार्फत बजारलाई मार्गदर्शन गर्नुपर्छ।
हुन त फुटबल खेल र खुला बजार दुई पृथक क्षेत्रजस्ता लाग्दछन्। तर, दुवै प्रतिस्पर्धा, नियम र अनुशासनमा आधारित हुन्छन्।
फुटबलमा दुई टिम एक अर्कासँग प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्छन् र बढीभन्दा बढी गोल गरेर खेल जित्ने प्रयास गर्छन्। यस्तै, खुला बजारमा विभिन्न उद्योग, कम्पनी र उद्यमीहरूले उपभोक्तालाई आकर्षित गर्न र नाफा कमाउन प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक रूपमा उत्कृष्ट सेवा प्रदान गर्छन् वा गुणस्तरीय वस्तु बेच्छन्।
फुटबल तथा खुला बजार वा बजार अर्थतन्त्र दुवैको उद्देश्य आफ्ना प्रतिद्वन्द्वीलाई खुला प्रतिस्पधामार्फत हराउनु हो। फुटबलमा बढी गोल गरेर जितेजस्तै बजारमा पनि आफ्ना उत्कृष्ट तथा गुणस्तरीय वस्तु तथा सेवाको माध्यमले बढीभन्दा बढी ग्राहकको मन जितेर प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्नु र नाफा कमाउनु नै बजार चलायमान हुनु हो। अर्थतन्त्र यसरी नै चल्छ।
फुटबल तथा खुला बजार दुवैमा नियमको पालना निष्ठापूर्वक गरिन्छ। नियम पालना गरेरै प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक खेल खेलिन्छ र जितिन्छ। त्यस्तै, उद्यम, व्यापार वा व्यवसायमा पनि प्रतिस्पर्धा गरिन्छ र नाफा कमाइन्छ।
यसैगरी, फुटबलमा रेफ्रीले खेललाई अनुशासित, निष्पक्ष र प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक बनाउन भूमिका खेल्छ अनि नियामकले अनुशासित, स्वतन्त्र, निष्पक्ष र प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक बजार बनाउने काम गर्दछ।
नियम र रेफ्रीमा भर पर्ने फुटबलमा जसरी रेफ्रीले गलत निर्णय गर्यो भने खेल बिग्रन्छ, त्यसैगरी नियम तथा नियामकमा भर पर्ने बजारमा पनि नियामकले आफ्नो भूमिका नखेले, खेल्न नखोजे वा नियम तोडमरोड गरे बजार प्रणाली नै धराशायी हुन्छ। अहिले नेपालमा भइरहेको त्यही हो। बजारमा नियामकले आफ्नो भूमिका नखेले, खेल्न नखोजे वा नियम तोडमरोड गरे केही समय ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता बिचौलिया स्वार्थ समूहलाई फाइदा होला तर दीर्घकालीन रूपमा अर्थतन्त्र समस्यामा पर्दछ। सम्पूर्ण नेपालीले यसको नकारात्मक असर भोग्नु पर्दछ।
त्यसैले नेपालको अर्थतन्त्रमा आज आएको समस्या रातारात आएको होइन। राजनीतिक दल तथा दलका नेताका सहयोगमा ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह तथा भुइँफट्टा वर्गले बजार प्रणालीको नियम मिचेर, झेली गरेर खेल्दा तथा अरु खेलाडीलाई फल हानेर गोल गर्न खोज्दा आज अर्थतन्त्रमा समस्या आएको हो। अर्थात् यो प्रणालीगत समस्या हो। अर्थतन्त्रमा प्रणालीगत समस्या आउनुमा ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह तथा भुइँफट्टा वर्गदेखि राजनीतिक दल र दलका नेता सबैको उत्तिकै योगदान छ।
किनकि, जसरी फुटबल खेलमा रेफ्रीले खेलाडीहरू कसरी दौडिन्छन् वा पास गर्छन् भन्नेमा हस्तक्षेप गर्दैन, त्यसैगरी बजारमा नियामकले पनि व्यवसाय कसरी चलाउने भनेर निर्देशन दिँदैन। तर, बजारमा खेलाडीको भूमिका तथा उसले नियम पालना गर्यो कि गरेन भन्ने कडा निगरानी गर्दछ। यदि नियम पालना नगरे, जसरी फुटबलमा रेफ्रीले खेलाडीलाई गल्तीको गम्भीरता हेरेर चेतावनी दिने (पहेँलो कार्ड)देखि खेल मैदानबाटै निकाल्ने (रातो कार्ड) जस्ता कारबाही गर्दछ, त्यसैगरी नियामकले पनि बजारका खेलाडीलाई गल्तीको गम्भीरताअनुसार कारबाही गर्नु पर्दछ।
तर, नेपालमा ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह र भुइँफट्टा वर्गले खुला बजार भनेको लुट्न पाइने अर्थमा बुझाउन थाले। यिनैका इसारामा नियामक निकायले व्यवसाय कसरी चलाउने भनेर निर्देशन दिन थाले। फुटबल खेलमा रेफ्रीले खेलाडीहरू कसरी दौडिने वा पास गर्ने भनेर हस्तक्षेप गरेपछि खेल मैदानमा तनाव उत्पन्न भएजस्तै नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र यतिखेर तनावग्रस्त छ। नियामक निकाय आफ्नो काम गर्दैन तर बजारमा यसरी व्यवसाय गर भनेर सिकाउँछ, त्यो पनि ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह र भुइँफट्टा वर्गको इसारामा।
त्यसैले, नेपालमा नियम कानुन मान्ने उद्योगी व्यवसायी मात्र होइन सामान्य मानिस पनि मूर्ख मानिन थालेका छन्। संघीय गणतन्त्र नेपालमा नियम तोड्नु बहादुरी हो र नियम कानुन मान्नु मूर्खता हो भन्ने भाष्य स्थापना गर्नमा ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’लगायतका भुइँफट्टा वर्ग र राजनीतिक दल तथा तिनका नेता अनि कर्मचारीतन्त्रको ठूलो योगदान छ।
जुन देशमा नियम कानुन नमान्नुलाई गौरव मानिन्छ, त्यो देश वा समाजमा लोकतन्त्र वा अभिव्यक्ति स्वतन्त्रता वा उद्यमशीलता भनेको मूर्खले गर्ने हो। स्मार्ट मान्छेले ठगेर खाने हो। किनकि ठगेर खाने नेता बन्छ अनि मेहेनत गर्ने भोकै रहन्छ।
खैर, एकपटक फेरि बजार र फुटबल तिरै फर्कौँ। बजार र फुटबल उस्तै छन् तर यी दुईमा फरक पनि छ। फुटबलमा निश्चित समयपछि एउटा विजेता हुन्छ भने अर्को पराजित हुन्छ तर खुला बजारमा सबै विजेता हुन सक्छन्। खुला बजारमा जजसले प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक रूपमा गुणस्तरीय तथा सस्तो भाउमा सेवा वा वस्तु ग्राहकलाई उपलब्ध गराउन सक्छन्, ती सबै विजेता हुन्छन्।
यस्तो प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक खुला बजारले उपभोक्तालाई पनि फाइदा हुन्छ। कुनै समय टेलिफोनको लाइन लिन घुस ख्वाउनु पर्थ्यो अथवा महँगो मूल्यमा किन्नु पर्थ्यो। तर जब दूरसञ्चार क्षेत्रमा एनसेलको आगमन भयो, तब नेपाल टेलिकमको सेवा पनि प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक, गुणस्तरीय र सस्तो भयो। एनसेल तथा नेपाल टेलिकम दुवैले राम्रै नाफा पनि कमाए। एउटा सही नीतिका कारण सरकारले पनि मनग्य राजस्व पायो।
यस्तै, निजी विमान सेवा कम्पनी आएपछि नेपाल वायुसेवा निगमको महँगो भाडा कम गर्न मद्दत पुगेको छ। नेपालीको आवागमन सहज भनेको छ। किनकि प्रतिस्पर्धाले उपभोक्ता, लगानीकर्ता तथा सरकार सबैलाई फाइदा हुन्छ।
त्यस्तै, नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक स्वायत्त नियामक निकाय भएका कारण बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाहरूले प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक ढंगमा काम गर्न पाएका छन्। यदि फेरि राष्ट्र बैंकमाथि सरकारको हैकम चल्न थाले बुझे हुन्छ, नागरिकको बचत रातारात सहकारीमा झैँ सत्ता र सरकारी संयन्त्रमा पहुँच भएका ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह र भुइँफट्टा वर्गले कुनबेला पचाइदिन्छ पत्तै हुन्न।
त्यसैले नियामक निकायमा हुने नियुक्ति सर्वसाधारण नागरिकको संवैधानिक हकसँग पनि प्रत्यक्षरूपमा जोडिन्छ। ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह र भुइँफट्टा वर्ग नियामक निकायमा कमजोर, लाचार, योग्यता नपुगेका, अनुभवहीन तथा आफ्नो अह्रनखटनमा चल्ने एउटा पात्र उभ्याउन चाहन्छ। त्यसपछि खेलाडी पनि आफै, रेफ्री पनि आफै, डाडुपन्यु दुवै आफ्नै हातमा।
पछिल्ला समयमा नियामक निकायमा भएका सबैजसो नियुक्तिमा विवाद आउनुको एउटा कारण राजनीतिक हस्तक्षेप हो भने अर्को कारण नियामक निकायलाई कमजोर बनाएर बजारमा आफै खेलाडी आफै रेफ्री बन्ने ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह र भुइँफट्टा वर्गको चाहना पनि हो। यो अनधिकृत तथा अनैतिक चाहनामा मलजल गर्ने राजनीतिक दल तथा नेतृत्वले जति छिटो फुटबल खेलको सामान्य नियम बुझ्दछ, त्यति छिटो नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र सुधारको बाटोमा जान्छ।
अन्यथा धितोपत्र बोर्ड, नेपाल बीमा प्राधिकरण, नेपाल दूरसञ्चार प्राधिकरण, नागरिक उड्डयन प्राधिकरणजस्ता नियामक निकायहरू न स्वायत्त छन्, न त व्यावसायिक रूपमा निष्पक्षतापूर्वक काम गर्न सकेका छन्। जसका कारण बहुसंख्यक नेपाली पीडित छन्, ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता केही स्वार्थ समूहको लागि हुने यी नियामक निकायले गरिदिने फाइदाले समग्र अर्थतन्त्रमा योगदान दिँदैन, उल्टो भ्रष्टाचारको जालो बढाएर भूमिगत अर्थतन्त्रलाई मलजल गर्दा नेपाल ढिलोचाँडो एफएटीएफको कालोसूचीमा पर्छ नै।
त्यसैले नेपालमा एउटा पनि योग्य र अनुभवी मान्छे नै नभए झैँ नियामक निकायहरूमा भएका पछिल्ला विवादास्पद नियुक्तिले पारदर्शिता, जवाफदेहिता र योग्यता प्रणालीको धज्जी उडाएका छन्। उदाहरणका लागि, नेपाल दूरसञ्चार प्राधिकरणका अध्यक्ष भूपेन्द्र भण्डारीले पेस गरेको कार्यअनुभवको प्रमाणपत्र नक्कली भएको उजुरीमा अख्तियार दुरूपयोग अनुसन्धान आयोगले छानबिन गरिरहेको छ।
त्यस्तै, बीमा प्राधिकरणका अध्यक्ष शरद ओझाको कार्यअनुभव नक्कली भएको आरोपमा अख्तियारमा छानबिन चलिरहेको छ। त्यति मात्र नभएर सर्वोच्च अदालतले समेत सुनुवाइ थालेको छ। अख्तियारले गम्भीरतापूर्वक छानबिन गरे अर्थमन्त्री नै फस्न सक्ने सम्भावना रहेको चर्चा पनि आजकाल मन्त्रालयमा छ। बढ्दो बीमा मर्जर, डिजिटल रूपान्तरण र नियमनमा कडाइ गर्नुपर्ने समयमै बीमा प्राधिकरणको नेतृत्व विवादमा परेपछि समग्र बीमा क्षेत्रप्रतिको विश्वास घटेको छ।
ओझाको नियुक्तिमा खुला प्रतिस्पर्धा र कानुनी सिफारिस प्रक्रियाको उल्लंघन गरिएको आरोप पनि छ। बीमा ऐन अनुसार सम्बन्धित विषयमा पाँच वर्षको उच्च व्यवस्थापन अनुभव आवश्यक भए पनि ओझा नियुक्त हुँदा केही बीमा कम्पनीमा एजेन्ट तथा कलेज अध्यापन गरेको अनुभव मात्र थियो। उनले काम गरेको भनेर पेस गरेको कार्यानुभवमा उनले सञ्चारमाध्यममा फरक जिम्मेवारी सम्हाले पनि कार्यानुभव पेस गर्दा भने नक्कली पेस गरेको आरोप छ। उक्त नक्कली प्रमाण अख्तियार र सर्वोच्चमा उजुरीसहित पुगेका कारण अख्तियारमा मात्र नभएर सर्वोच्चले पनि अग्राधिकार दिँदै मंसिरमा पेसी तोकेको छ। सरकारमा नक्कली कागजात पेस गर्नु सरकारी कागजात किर्ते अन्तर्गत पर्दछ, जुन गम्भीर अपराध मानिन्छ।
अधिवक्ता जगदीश दाहालका अनुसार सरकारी कागजात किर्ते फौज्दारी अभियोग हो र यसमा नगद तथा कैद सजाय दुवै हुनसक्छ।
ओझाले आफूलाई नियुक्त गराउने कम्पनीका साहुलाई फाइदा हुनेगरी श्रमिक बीमा कोषसम्बन्धी निर्देशन परिवर्तन गरी एक वर्षसम्म कोष वितरण रोक्ने निर्णय गरेको आरोप पनि छ। कुनै एक कम्पनीको फाइदाका लागि गरिएको यस्तो निर्णयको सांसदहरूले समेत विरोध जनाएका थिए। यसरी कानुन उल्लंघन, नक्कली कार्यानुभवको प्रमाणपत्र, आयु र अनुभवको कमीजस्ता अनेक उजुरीका बाबजुद अर्थ मन्त्रालयले अझै निर्णायक कदम उठाइसकेको छैन। नियामक निकायहरूमा भएका विवादास्पद नियुक्तिका कारण यी नियामक निकायको संस्थागत विश्वसनीयता गुम्दै गएको छ भने समग्र बीमा क्षेत्रको विकास तथा विस्तारमा नकारात्मक असर परिरहेको बीमा कम्पनीहरू बताउँछन्।
यसैगरी, धितोपत्र बोर्ड र नागरिक उड्डयन प्राधिकरणका अध्यक्षहरू पनि विवादमा छन्। अझ धितोपत्र बोर्डका अध्यक्ष सन्तोषनारायण श्रेष्ठ त आफै रेफ्री आफै खेलाडी पनि हुन्। धितोपत्र बोर्डका अध्यक्ष श्रेष्ठमाथि व्यक्तिगत लगानी रहेको जलविद्युत् कम्पनी बुंगल हाइड्रोको आईपीओलाई फास्ट ट्र्याकमा अनुमति दिएको तर पाइपलाइनमा रहेका दर्जनौँ जलविद्युत कम्पनीको आईपीओ स्वीकृतिका लागि कमिसन मागेर पुँजी बजारको विकासलाई अवरुद्ध गरेको आरोप छ।
स्वतन्त्र ऊर्जा उत्पादक संघ (इप्पान)ले श्रेष्ठले आफ्ना मान्छे पठाएर कमिसनको बार्गेनिङ गरेको आरोप सार्वजनिक रूपमै लगाएको छ। त्यति मात्र होइन, ट्रेड टावर लिमिटेडजस्तो कमजोर वित्तीय अवस्था तथा लिजमा लिएको जग्गाको समयअवधि सकिन लागेका कारण नागरिक सिधै ठगिन सक्ने सम्भावना भएको कम्पनीलाई आईपीओ स्वीकृति दिने, तर सरकारले नै प्रोत्साहन गरेर सरकारी नीतिअनुरूप मुलुकलाई विद्युत् निर्यात गर्न सघाउने जलविद्युत् आयोजनाका आईपीओ भने रोकेर कमिसन मागेको आरोपका बीच श्रेष्ठ नेपालमा लगानीको वातावरण नभएको सन्देश दिन प्रयोग पनि भएका छन्।
आफूलाई नियुक्ति दिलाउने समूहका लागि दोस्रो स्टक एक्सचेन्ज ल्याउन उनी मरिहत्ते गरेर लागेका छन्। बजार सिद्धान्तअनुरूप दोस्रो स्टक एक्सचेन्ज आउँदा नेपाल स्टक एक्सचेन्ज प्रतिस्पर्धी हुनुपर्ने हो। तर हिमालयन रि आएपछि नेपाल रिइन्स्योरेन्स प्रतिस्पर्धी भयो वा हुन दिइयो कि नेपाल रिइन्स्योरेन्सको व्यवसाय खुम्च्याउन नियामक निकायलाई दुरूपयोग गरियो? अनि त्यसबाट के बुझ्ने? रेफ्रीको दुरूपयोग गरेर प्रतिस्पर्धी टोलीका लागि गोलपोस्ट नै सार्ने वा सानो बनाउने खेल खेलिँदैन दोस्रो स्टक एक्सचेन्जमा पनि भन्ने के ग्यारेन्टी छ त? सरकार र सत्तामा मात्र नभएर प्रधानमन्त्रीको शयनकक्षसम्म पहुँच भएकाहरूले मैदानमा पसिसकेपछि खेलको नियम नै परिवर्तन गरेका थुप्रै उदाहरण छन्।
त्यसैले नियामक निकायले निजीक्षेत्रमैत्री प्रतिस्पर्धी वातावरण सिर्जना गर्नुको सट्टा आफ्ना मालिकअनुकूल नियम बनाउने अनि बजारमा प्रतिस्पर्धीलाई छल्ने जस्ता कार्य गर्दा संस्थागत भ्रष्टाचारका प्रवृत्ति बढेको छ र सर्वसाधारणको लागि गरिखाने अवसर संकुचित हुँदै गएको छ।
‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह र भुइँफट्टा वर्ग वा सर्वसाधारणको भाषामा भन्दा बिचौलियाले नियामक निकायमाथि कब्जा गर्दा सरकार आफैले सहजीकरण गरिदिनुले नवउद्यमी वा नियम कानुनभित्र बसेर उद्यम गर्छु भन्ने नेपाली युवा नेपालमा बस्ने वातावरण छैन। देशमा निराशा बढ्दो छ।
यस्तै परिस्थिति रहिरहे नेपालमा वैदेशिक लगानी घट्ने तथा विश्वसनीय लगानीकर्ता पलायन हुने, दक्ष जनशक्ति विदेश पलायन हुने, प्रतिस्पर्धी बजारको क्षयीककरण हुने, नियामक निकायको पतन हुने अनि सरकारी निकाय र न्याय प्रणालीमाथि अविश्वास बढ्दै जानेछ।
त्यसैले नेपालको अर्थतन्त्रमा विश्वास पुनःस्थापना गर्न स्वतन्त्र नियामक निकाय र यी नियामक निकायमा सक्षम तथा उच्च नैतिक चरित्रको नियुक्ति, सशक्त र पारदर्शी नियम, कर्मचारीतन्त्रप्रति कठोर सरकार तथा सक्रिय नागरिक समाज अनि अनुसन्धान पत्रकारिता अत्यावश्यक छन्।
अन्तमा, जबसम्म प्रणालीगत सुधारमार्फत राजनीतिज्ञ र ‘थर्मल गन ग्याङ’जस्ता स्वार्थ समूह अनि भुइँफट्टा वर्गको गठबन्धनलाई तोड्न सकिन्न, तबसम्म नेपालमा विकृत अर्थ व्यवस्था चलिरहन्छ।
(Published at Nepalkhabar on July
Monday, September 27, 2021
SC seeks Rs 5 million bail from former IRD chief Sharma
The Special Court today asked for Rs 5 million bail from former director general of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) Chudamani Sharma, who has been accused of revenue leakage worth over Rs 1 billion.
After a hearing, a division bench of judges Abdul Aziz Musalman and Justice Nityananda Pandey issued the verdict.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a case against three persons including Sharma at the Special Court on June 23 accusing them of corruption. The CIAA had sought to recover a total of Rs 1.33 billion from the accused.
Sharma, who has been accused of one of the largest corruption scandals in Nepal's history, was under investigation for possessing property amassed through alleged corruption. The two other accused including Tax Settlement Commission (TSC) chairman LD Mahat and the TSC member Umesh Prasad Dhakal, who also cleared an amount of Rs 5 million each to be released on bail on Sunday.
They have been accused of the abuse of authority by making the taxpayers submit less than the actual amount, causing a huge amount of revenue leakage to the state.
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Reconstruction of Budhanilkantha Dharmashala starts
The reconstruction of Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha Temple in Kathmandu started today.
Indian Embassy deputy chief Namgya C Khampa and chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) jointly laid foundation stone for the reconstruction of Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha Temple, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
The reconstruction of Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha is the third of 28 cultural heritage conservation and restoration projects being under taken with a reconstruction of Rs 5800 million committed by government of India for the cultural heritage sector, the press note reads, adding that all the 28 sites were identified by government and both India and Nepal signed an MoU in this regard in August 2017. "The Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Building) of NRA is the implementing agency."
The Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha is expected to facilitate visit of pilgrims and tourists visiting this sacred temple.
India has been working with Nepal for restoration of cultural heritage projects in past too. "We have long cultural similarities, cultural heritage to preserve for the future generation," the press note further reads. "Earlier in November 2019, the Mathadhish building for Budhaneelkantha temple built under India’s development cooperation scheme at a total cost of Rs 22 million."
Government of India is committed to work with Nepal government in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage sites in Nepal to preserve the living cultural heritage sites to their past glory, the Embassy adds.
The event was attended by Mathadhish of Temple Swami Nigamananda, chairman of Budhanilkantha Management Committee Laxman Khadka, secretary of NRA Mani Ram Gelal, secretary at the Ministry of Land Reform and Management Tek Narayan Pandey, chief of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Jay Bahadur Chand, mayor of Budhanilkantha Municipality Uddhav Pd. Kharel, chairman of the World Hindu Federation Chakra Bandhu Aryal, and officials from the Embassy of India, NRA among others.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Anti-graft body wants to investigate corruption in private sector
Speaking during an interaction on the annual report of the commission at the Parliamentary Committee on Good Governance today, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has said that it should be allowed to investigate the corruption cases of the private sector. “The commission should be authorised to investigate the corruption cases in the private sector that are directly concerned with the public,” secretary at the CIAA Suresh Adhikari said. “The investigations into the irregularities in banks and financial institutions (BFIs) – where the public has a huge investment – should be under the domain of the CIAA,” he claimed, adding that the CIAA should have the authority to look into the corruption in the cooperatives, banks and financial institutions. “We are not talking about all private institutions.”
The private sector, however, is against the CIAA demand. They have met with the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and complained about the government’s proposed bill that is going to give the CIAA extra teeth to bite private sector also. The premier has then halted the bill for the time being.
The participating lawmakers have, however, blamed the CIAA for not taking action on bid corruption cases and focusing on the small cases only. “The trend of political appointment in the CIAA has helped corruption flourish in the country,” lawmaker Bijay Subba said, arguing that the rate of corruption can be significantly brought down, if the system of political appointment to the public posts is not practiced. “Political pressure is a key factor to escalate corruption.”
The lawmakers, on the occasion, also blamed the CIAA for its failure in controlling the cases of corruption at the local level. Questioning the system of political appointment of the CIAA chief and other commissioners, the lawmakers concluded that there is no meaning of complaining about the commission unless it is free from politics.
“The poor can never be corrupt, however, those who hold power and post are highly indulged in abusing their authority,” another lawmaker Janardan Sharma said, accepting that the political sector has turned out to be the most corrupt one.
According to the annual report presented by the CIAA, most corruption complaints were related to local governments in the last fiscal year 2019-20. “Of the total complaints filed at the CIAA, some 26.87 per cent are related to irregularities at the local level, while some 16.95 per cent cases are related to the education sector followed by 8.34 per cent in land administration, some 4.6 per cent in forest and environment and 3.98 per cent in health and population. “Likewise, some 8.53 per cent cases registered in the last fiscal year were related to fake credentials and 7.61 per cent to acquiring property illegally.”
Though the commission claimed that it has registered a record cases in the last fiscal year, most of them are petty corruptions. The incumbent cabinet ministers have been allegedly involved in the large corruption cases, and the parliamentary committees are also investigating the charges, but the CIAA has not been interested to investigate them, the lawmakers also blamed.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Complaint against health minister Dhakal filed at CIAA
‘Enough is Enough’ campaigners have registered a complaint against Dhakal and some other government officials at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) for their allegedly involvement in embezzling state funds while procuring medical equipment amid the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the complaint registered at the CIAA today afternoon, they have demanded an investigation into the alleged corruption in the medical equipment procurement.
They have also sought investigation against secretary at the Ministry of Health Laxman Aryal, director general at the Department of Health Dipendra Raman Singh, owner of the Omni Group Durga Prasad Belwase, Bhanu Bhakta Bhattarai and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Omni Group Tulhari Singh Bhusal.
In their complaint, the activists have categorically claimed that the alleged corruption took place in collusion with deputy prime minister Ishwar Pokharel, Prime Minister's chief political advisor Bishnu Rimal, former health secretary Yadav Koirala and former director general of the Department of Health Mahendra Shrestha. Incumbent secretary Aryal has been transferred to the Health Ministry after the infamous Omni-episode that has
Earlier, ‘Enough is Enough’ campaigners had sought information from the Health Ministry regarding the government's expenses in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic by using the Right to Information (RTI).
The government had bypassed minimum quotation and purchased medical equipment and kits at high rate from Omni Group raising many eyebrows and made the entire procurement process suspicious. Likewise, it was revealed that coronavirus test kits worth almost Rs 70 million that the government purchased from China did not meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
After pressure from public, the Public Procurement Monitoring Office has sought clarification from Omni Group as to why it should not be blacklisted, as recommended by the Department of Health Services, for the alleged irregularities in the procurement and supply of medical goods for the Covid-19 emergency.
One month ago, on June 23 the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has opened a formal investigation into alleged corruption over allegations that government officials procured essential medicines and health products at inflated prices, taking undue advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the mini parliament’s probe has not moved ahead since a month as the government of KP Sharma Oli has been protecting corrupt ministers including health minister Dhakal.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Embossed number plates to be used after a decade
The department – issuing a public notice today – asked vehicle owners, yet again, to move ahead for the process of acquiring ‘the advanced type number plates’ to replace the current hand-painted vehicle licence plates from the beginning of the next fiscal year.
The embossed number plates to be installed in automobiles are divided into five categories, the department said, adding that the first type of embossed number plate is for vehicles used by the President, second type for vehicles used by government agencies. “The diplomatic agencies, commercial and private vehicles will also get separate number plates that appear shiny and can be traced from a distance.
Individuals can apply online to receive embossed number plates for their vehicles, the notice reads, adding that the owners of heavy four-wheelers need to spend Rs 3,600 to get the new number plates. “Likewise, car owners can get these license plates for Rs 3,200, while owners of auto-rickshaws and other three-wheelers will have to pay Rs 2,900 to get the embossed number plates.”
Owners of two-wheelers, meanwhile, have to pay Rs 2,500 to get the embossed number plates, it adds.
The embossed number plates come with microchips that enable to maintain uniformity in the issuance of number plates and prevent duplication. Likewise, the new number plates also help authorities to maintain digital records of vehicles – plying the roads – to collect revenue on time and control auto theft.
The plan to launch embossed number plates was included in the Three-Year Interim Plan 2007-10. As the process of embossed number pates started, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had intervened in 2010 following a complaint regarding irregularities.
The process also delayed after Parliamentary Committee on Development intervened suspecting foul play in the procurement process that handed over the work to print and supply the number plates to Decatur Tiger, a US and Bangladesh joint venture company. The government had begun the process of distributing embossed number plates for vehicles – from October 22, 2017 – on the basis of the provincial structure against the zonal format.
The Supreme Court later on February 23, 2018, issued an interim order to stop the issuance of the embossed number plates, seeking to make mandatory use of Devanagari (Nepali) font on the number plates instead of English. The apex court last December has paved the way for the government to move ahead with the process.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Red tape, auditing malpractice major causes of corruption
As the country is implementing the federal system, there is a rise in the misappropriation of the state fund, reveals a survey report 'Study on Corruption and Good Governance in Nepal-2018' released last year. “During the period, the anti-graft body carried out 94 sting operations,” it reads, adding that the anti-graft body has registered 351 cases at the Special Court, the highest number in the history of the CIAA, in the last fiscal year, whereas it had conducted some 142 sting operations – also a record high – bringing 200 public officials to book.
Speaking at an event organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) today, the CIAA chief commissioner Nabin Kumar Ghimire said that corruption cases have been on the rise, mainly at the local government level. “The commission has started rigorous watch on officials at the local units.”
The survey report also reveals that only land revenue offices are more corrupt than local units. “Most of the complaints are related to quantity and quality of supplied goods, substandard construction, awarding contracts without following due procedures, budget misappropriation, illegal mining of aggregate, distribution of social security allowance, and misuse of office facilities.”
The participants though stressed on poor auditing process and fraudulent financial reporting as the reasons behind corruption, Ghimire sought effective role of chartered accountants (CAs) to check the cases of financial misappropriations in public offices.
The Corruption Perception Index 2019 released by the Transparency International (TI) also reveals that Nepal's position fell two notches to 124 in 2018.
Business leaders, on the occasion, also expressed concern over the expanding shadow economy and falling quality of development work due to increasing corruption, which has also increased cost of doing business.
Monday, December 16, 2019
CIAA officials’ six-day training begins in India
The latest training for Nepali officers reaffirms India’s continuing commitment for capacity building of Nepali officers, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. “The second batch of 21 CIAA officers of Nepal is scheduled to participate in the training from January 11 to January 16.”
This is a tailor-made course specially designed at the request of Nepal for a total of 42 CIAA officers. The course will strengthen institutional capacity of CIAA to curb corrupt practices and enhance good governance in Nepal. “The course mainly focuses on identifying factors responsible for corruption, its impact on the economy and methodology for its detection and prevention,” it reads, adding that the course will enhance the skills of CIAA officers for ITbased investigations, sharpen their analytical capabilities and help them learn new methodologies, which will empower them to detect, prevent and prosecute corrupt and fraudulent individuals.
The officers are being trained at Gujarat Forensic Sciences University of Gandhinagar in Gujarat, which trains forensic experts in the area of forensic science, crime investigation, security, behavioural science and criminology. “The course is fully supported by the Government of India under the Ministry of External Affairs’ Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme,” the press note adds.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Political patronage encouraging corruption: CIAA
Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) – issuing a report today – revealed that no action against the corrupt due to political patronage has helped increase the corruption. The CIAA has surveyed on 3,000 people of 15 districts in the 7 provinces to find out the root cause of corruption.
“Of the total respondent, some 71.5 per cent opines that non action has increased the corruption, whereas some 37.2 per cent suggests political patronage, and some 36.8 per cent believes that expensive electoral system has led to the corruption,” the survey revealed, adding that corruption starts from the level of programme planning to implementation level.
Thus, the CIAA has asked the local governments to follow the Public Procurement Act (PPA) to check numerous irregularities, in which they – in collusion with local consumer committees and their officials – are involved in.
“The local governments have not bothered to follow the law and have been disbursing funds to contractors and other stakeholders in a haphazard manner,” the survey report reads, adding that it has been receiving number of complaints from people on various irregularities. “Consumer committees are being provided payments by local authorities in advance even before any work has started.
Consumer committees have been formed, when there the governments could not held local election for almost 20 years. They were supposed to be involved in the development activities in the local level during those years, when there were no local representatives to look at the even regular development activities. After the local elections were held after a gap of 20 years in 2017, it was largely expected that elected representatives will be accountable to the people and governance would improve. But continuation of consumer committees has become the root cause of corruption in the local bodies. Thus, the CIAA has also asked them to take action against the erring consumer committees.
The local bodies have been finalising reports of projects even before the concerned projects have been completed, reads the survey report. On the basis of the survey report the CIAA has directed all the local bodies to follow the proper laws, including the Local Government Operation Act and Public Procurement Act and its directives and guidelines to check irregularities.
The CIAA has received the highest number of complaints about irregularities at the offices related to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, which oversees the affairs of the local governments.
“Due to the use of heavy equipment for minor works, which could have been completed by utilising local human resources, the local people are becoming unemployed,” the report also reads, adding that the equipment are also not being leased in a competitive manner. “The local bodies have not bothered to listen to the needs of the people and are not utilising local human and natural resources.”
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Government to bring new guidelines for market monitoring
The new code of conduct will set standards while carrying out market monitoring activities, according to the department that is planning to enforce the code of conduct to make the inspection team members follow certain norms while visiting the market for monitoring. “The code of conduct will also maintain the standards for formation of monitoring teams by including media persons and consumer right activists in the teams,” the department informed.
The government teams – most of the time – adopt ad hoc measures to carry out market monitoring.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had – sometimes ago – grilled an official of the department for taking bribe to let go the unscrupulous trader. Apart from government officials, consumer right activists – who join market inspection team – were also found defrauding traders in a number of cases.
The department is also drafting a separate guideline to streamline the supply chain of essential goods. Realising that a large number of layers in supply chain was one of the reasons behind exorbitant rise in market price, the department has stepped up to set standard for the market channel.
“Price of many products, especially agri products, go up due to presence of many market players including middlemen,” the department said, adding that the middlemen are exploiting both the farmers and general consumers. “On one hand, producers get low price for their products, and on the other consumers are compelled to pay high price while middlemen pocket a lion's share of the profit.”
The department will finalise drafts of both the standards to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies for final approval.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
India proposes to construct Lower Arun Hydro Project
The government of India has again expressed interest to construct the Lower Arun Hydropower Project in a meeting with minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun in the Capital today. Indian Minister of State for Power RK Singh has proposed that the new project can be developed adopting the same model of 900-MW Arun III Project, according to a press note issued by the ministry. “The Indian government had earlier proposed to build the project when minister Pun had visited India in February.”
Singh mentioned that India has proposed to build Lower Arun as per all conditions set in Arun III. According to the agreement on Arun III, the government – apart from shares being allocated to the locals and free energy to the affected areas – will get Rs 330 billion as royalty over a period of 20 years and the project will also provide 21.9 per cent of the generated energy free of cost to Nepal. “The developer will hand over the ownership of the project to Nepal after 20 years of commercial operation.”
According to the Energy Ministry, New Delhi has also submitted a proposal to develop Lower Arun. “Nepal has said that further discussions on Lower Arun will be based on the work progress of Arun III,” the officials said, adding that construction work of 900-MW Arun III hydropower project has been completed some 25 per cent till date.
The energy minister had previously scrapped the licence granted to a Brazilian company ‘Brass Power’ for construction of Lower Arun Project according to the directive from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). The company had failed to make any progress in the project in the 15 years duration after the licence was awarded to it.
The project cost for Lower Arun is estimated at over Rs 100 billion. But according to the initial study conducted by Brass Power, the installed capacity of the project can be enhanced to around 1,000 MW, if it is developed as a storage-type project. “But the Department of Electricity Development is carrying out the feasibility and detailed study of the project at present.”
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Government plans new strategy to combat money laundering
The government has introduced a new strategy to combat terrorism financing and money laundering with stringent provisions, informed a government official, who was in the team to prepare the strategy.
The FATF – an international inter-governmental organisation tasked with combating money laundering – will review Nepal’s progress in combating terrorism financing and money laundering in 2020-21, he said, adding that Nepal is though under the Asia Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering, which is a member of FATF. “As a member of the FATF’s Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, Nepal’s progress will be reviewed.”
As part of the Asia Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering, the official said that Nepal has managed to avoid being blacklisted so far but it faces a high risk due to slow progress and its non-committal approach to combating money laundering. If a country is blacklisted, all foreign financial institutions will stop conducting transactions with the country. Import and export will also be stopped, if any bank rejects transactions. “This strategy seeks to make all sectors equally responsible,” he said, adding that it has primarily added to the responsibility of banks and financial institutions, and the investigation body has been further empowered.
The government has brought the new strategy that allows for anyone accused of financial impropriety to be investigated for money laundering, which means any complaint registered with government agencies like the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Nepal Police, Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI), and the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) will automatically be up for investigation for money laundering.
Though, the incumbent Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has brought the Department of Money Laundering Investigation under him – claiming to make it stronger, which the opposition blames to misuse the power – the new strategy will provide authority to the Nepal Police to investigate and file cases related to money laundering and terror financing. The strategy will be monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Cabinet. But it has created more confusion among government bodies also after the Department of Money Laundering Investigation was brought under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The strategy read that the Nepal Police will be upgraded with necessary skill sets to qualify it to coordinate with the Department of Money Laundering Investigation in probing such cases regarding investment in criminal activities. “Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) under the Nepal Police will be used to exchange information among all related departments,” it reads, adding that cases of severe nature and high risk will be investigated jointly.
The Department of Money Laundering Investigation, currently, is the sole agency to file cases regarding money laundering. Acording to the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2008, “in case the police or other departments want to investigate cases, they would need permission from the department.”
The new strategy, however, reads that this provision in the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2008 will be amended. The failure to amend Money Laundering Prevention Act 2008 has made it difficult to conduct important tasks relating to the prevention of money laundering. It is doubtful whether the current strategy will also be implemented.
Likewise, the strategy also reads that there will also be a mandatory provision for an individual to have only one account. “Transactions of above Rs 100,000 will be allowed only through digital accounting,” it reads, adding that any state financial transactions will be carried out via bank accounts.
There are also provisions to digitalise transactions and information through mobile apps.
Though, Nepal has still to do a lot before the review meeting to not again listed under grey zone, the strategy has prescribed plans to design a set of procedures related to money laundering that will be included in all public sector training manuals. “The government officials will also be required to sign a performance contract on eradicating money laundering, which will become a basis for their evaluation.”
The strategy also plans to bring all remittance-related activities under the surveillance of the central bank, which needs to maintain a list of remittance companies, company agents and branch agents.
Likewise, the Department of Foreign Employment should provide remittance orientation training before issuing labour permits to foreign employment seekers,” the strategy reads, adding that the Department of Foreign Employment, Foreign Ministry, the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and their country organisations, and the Immigration Department should have their links on the website of central bank. “The government will also make it mandatory for all banks, financial institutions and remittance entrepreneurs that they ensure that their transactions are conducted through software.”
The strategy also aims at enforcing the use of software for Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon), the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) and all savings and financial cooperatives, which have their paid up capital exceeding Rs 100 million.
The purchase of house, land and valuable metals by non-financial professionals and entrepreneurs will be strictly monitored, reads the strategy that has listed new technology and non-profit sector as high risk areas. “Special regulatory surveillance will be arranged for businesses like currency price transfer, currency exchange, real estate and precious metals.”
The strategy also has a provision for signing treaties for mutual legal support – to help check the dirty money flow – and such treaties will be signed with at least two countries in a year.
Nepal – if failed to bring stringent measures to control flow of dirty money – will be blacklisted, thus has no option than to come up with a stricter strategy and implement it to avoid getting blacklisted. But the implementation part still remains a challenge as according to the FATF, the most vulnerable group – Politically Influential People (PIP) – that is responsible to bring the law and implement – have the most black money earned through the corruption, tax evasion, commission and red tape.
According to former finance minister Shanta Raj Subedi, “Nepal has no option but to implement the strategy to avoid being blacklisted.”
Though Nepal has escaped blacklisting by the FATF, it has failed to come up with workable mechanisms to convince the international agency that it is committed to implementing the existing provisions to stop finance terrorism and money laundering.
Nepal has already been blacklisted once, and if this time the country is blacklisted again, it will be not only damaging to the economy but also very difficult to get out of the list as it has not been serious in implementation of its international commitments.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
FCAN announces protest programmes against strict construction regulation
Organising a national convention of contractors from across the country in Kathmandu today, chairman of FCAN Ravi Singh also announced a series of protests programmes like returning the contract licence to the government and wearing black armband, until government hears them right.
The amended Public Procurement Regulation has a provision that states that a contract will not be extended for more than half of its original deadline to ensure that projects that are on the verge of completion would not be affected by the regulation, according to the government officials.
Likewise, the contractors have also protested other provisions of the amended regulation that restricts certain individuals from bidding projects. The provision states that any bidder – firm or individual – that faces a corruption case in court, according to the law, is barred from bidding for projects either as an individual or in the form of a joint venture unless the court gives a clean chit.
The contractors today also organised a rally in Kathmandu demanding changes in the regulation before a ‘special gathering’ that has agreed to protest and bring all the construction works to a standstill after July 17, if the government does not give them an ear.
Several development projects are facing time and cost overruns due to contractors’ ignorance and the government’s failure to clear the site and public protests, but the contractors have critisised the tough amendment that the government has introduced to force contractors to complete their work on time, with warning of contract termination.
Likewise, the government officials also said that the new provisions will be good for new projects, it could not be practical for the old ones, particularly those ones which are facing time overrun due to the failure of the government agencies themselves.
According to the government officials themselves, the provision of not extending the deadline – irrespective of who is responsible for the delay – could lead to the termination of many contracts.
According to a study by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), some 1,848 projects worth Rs 118 billion under seven ministries are incomplete and past their deadlines.
According to secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Karki, “The provisions of the newly amended regulation is all right for the projects to be awarded in the future but the concern is about how to complete projects whose deadline has been extended beyond 50 per cent of original deadline due to genuine reasons like the government officials failing to clear site, public preventing the contractors to work and utility facilities not being cleared to start work.”
But there is also a risk that even projects that are over 90 per cent complete but have not completed as per deadline extension provision in new regulation would face contract termination as these projects will be delayed further for inviting fresh tender. “It will also increase the cost of the project because tender should be based on new price range,” said a higher government official.
The government officials and contractors both agree on the implementing this provision for the new projects. “The government should at least let the contractors finish the work they have started,” said the FCAN.
According to the amended regulation, the government agency should not call tender until the site is cleared, the budget is enough for providing compensation for acquired land and a report about Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been approved, which FCAN also opines is right.
Monday, April 8, 2019
PM confesses: Sugar mills tricked me into restricting imports
Addressing the 16th annual general meeting (AGM), he also showed his dissatisfaction about how local middlemen escalated sugar prices after the government announced a ban on sugar import to promote local industries and farmers.
The government banned sugar imports – in September 2018 – to promote domestic product after import started to threaten the existence of Nepali sugar industries, according to them. But they started increasing the price once the government banned the imports.
Until the government banned the sugar, Nepal imported sugar from Pakistan, Brazil and India. The price of sugar imported from Pakistan was Rs 62 per kg, while the sugar imported from Brazil was Rs 60. "As the government banned the import, the local industries and middlemen hiked the sugar price and fostered black marketing,” Oli said, adding that a kg of sugar was sold for as much as Rs 105.
The ban coincided the biggest festival Dashain-Tihar when sugar is on high demand. The operators created created artificial shortage in the market though the Ministry for Industry, Commerce and Supplies claimed of sufficient supply. The ministry had claimed that some 180,000 metric tonnes of sugar is being produced in the country, while the demand is 230,000 metric tonnes.
Venting his ire against sugar mill owners for 'tricking' him, Oli said that the domestic sugar mill owners betrayed him by telling him that their stocks of sugar were so high they would not be able to clear them even in the next year. "They told me that high imports including from Pakistan had created a problem as they were not able to sell at Rs 53 or Rs 54 per kilo, and they requested me to impose the import restriction."
Though the sugar mills committed not to raise the price as a condition for the import restriction, the price went through the roof soon after, he said, "By raising the sugar price exorbitantly and creating an artificial shortage, it was sold at Rs 85 per kilo and even at up to Rs 105. I want to tell you all, stop this type of cheating."
Prime Minister Oli's accusation comes nearly seven months after the decision to import restrictions taken at the behest of sugar mill owners.
After a huge public outrage over the shortage and the artificial price hike on the eve of the festive, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) instruct the government to intervene in the market and take action against those involved in the artificial price hike.
The PAC, upon the recommendation of its sub-committee, also instructed the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to investigate into the shortage and price hike but to no conclusion, as the decision was backed by the Prime Minister himself.
Though the country’s executive head warned business community not to take undue advantage of the ‘private sector-friendly nature’ of the government, he had himself directed the ministries to ban the sugar import, after both the industry and finance ministries denied the sugar mill owners request to ban sugar import. The sugar mill owners met Oli in at his official residence in Baluwater to convince him for import ban.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Social Welfare Council vice chair among five sacked
A cabinet meeting of February 15 had decided to remove vice chair Baral, treasurer Bir Bahadur Thagunna, members Indra Kumar Jha, Gokarna Bhatta and member secretary Dilli Prasad Bhatta, according to Communications and Information Technology Minister Gukul Banskota.
Minister Banskot – organizing a regular press meet today – said that the cabinet had decided to sack the officials for 'causing harm' to Social Welfare Council by working with 'malevolent intention' and against the law.
Banskota – who is also the government spokesperson – also informed that the government has decided carry out investigation related to financial and administrative irregularities in the Social Welfare Council according to the existing law. The case will also be sent to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) for action.
At a time, when the government is criticized for its inaction against the corruption, Baskota claimed that the government won’t back down from taking action against those involved in corruption.
Similarly, the government has appointed commerce secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari as the chairman of the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) board. Earlier, Adhikari had served as a secretary at the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretariat for almost 2 years.
Likewise, the government has also promoted joint secretary Surya Prasad Gautam as the Financial Comptroller General and Nepal Army Colonel Ganesh Kumar Shrestha to the post of Brigadier General.
The government has also created nine temporary posts as part of the preparation to establish three medical colleges under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The cabinet meeting has decided to create temporary organisational infrastructure and temporary deputation of first class officer until second week of July 2019 to run the physical infrastructure development for the medical colleges.
The government has also decided to bring five hospitals – Koshi Zonal Hospital, Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital of Birgunj, Bharatpur Hospital of Chitwan, Bheri Zonal Hospital of Nepalgunj and Dadeldhura Sub-Regional Hospital of Dadeldhura – under the federal government to provide special service, he added.
Earlier, the government had brought 11 hospitals under the federal government.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
NOC former MD Khadka released on bail of Rs 20.5 million
Khadka was presented to the Special Court today, where a bench of Special Court Chairman Baburam Regmi, and members Pramod Kumar Shrestha and Narayan Prasad Pokharel demanded the bail amount of Rs 20.5 million.
Khadka faces corruption allegations during his career in government services in different offices in different capacities. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had, on January 7, filed a corruption case at the Special Court against Khadka on the charge of amassing property worth Rs 186.6 million illegally.
The CIAA investigation has revealed that Khadka amassed Rs 86.46 million since March 15, 2013. But his expenses and investment was far more than what he legally earned in these years. He had spent and invested Rs 273.07 million in five years since 2013. Deducting his legal earning from the total amount that he spent and invested, Khadka has failed to show the source of Rs 186.6 million, according to CIAA investigation.
The anti-graft body has – after investigation – sought penalty of up to five years of imprisonment, fine equivalent to illegally earned property, and confiscation of illegally earned property. He had misused his power and close relations with CIAA former chief Lok Man Singh Karki to amass the wealth and invested in his own name and others to whitewash the money earned from alleged corruption.
Monday, January 7, 2019
CIAA files graft case filed against former NOC chief Khadka
The anti-graft body also made his wife Sharmila and another woman Amita Lama Sodemba, defendants in the case. "Khadka’s valid income was Rs 86.5 million but his expenditure and investment was worth Rs 273.08 million," a press note from the anti-graft body reads.
According to the press note, "Khadka earned a total salary of Rs 4.06 million since 15 March 2013 – when the probe began – but he made Rs 5.88 million from the sale of land, besides receiving Rs 2.92 million as gratuity and other benefits when he quit government service."
Likewise, he received Rs 1.5 million in the form of pension, the release reads, adding that he had a balance of Rs 27.15 million in more than 55 banks and banking institutions. "Khadka made a payment of Rs 18.02 million to different department stores through bank ATM cards."
During the probe period, Khadka also bought three houses, though he already has an ancestral house. He also made partial payments for two other houses and also bought 11 plots in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavreplanchowk district, the CIAA has claimed. "Khadka kept property worth more than 70 million in the name of Amita Lama Sodemba, a resident of Budhanilkantha Municipality’s Ward No 4.
According to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), it is one of the largest corruption cases related to illegal property in the country.
CIAA spokesperson Rameshwor Dangal – confirming that the anti graft body has moved the court against Khadka – said that the constitutional body has also been conducting a separate probe into Khadka's involvement in alleged corruption in purchase of land by the NOC. Under the supervision of Khadka, NOC was found to have purchased plots of land at a much higher cost than the prevalent market rates in Jhapa, Sarlahi, Chitwan and Rupandehi districts. "In fact, NOC paid up to four times more for plots in these areas compared to the government valuation of the plots."
The probe conducted by parliamentary committees under the previous parliament had claimed that there had been irregularity of a minimum of Rs 1.26 billion in the land purchased by the state-owned oil monopoly.
According to the Dangal, the CIAA probe revealed that Khadka not only earned illegal property but was also found to have hidden the property worth Rs 70 million in the name of other people. "The anti-graft body also confiscated the 'good for payment' cheque for Rs 8.98 million Khadka had issued to make advance payment to purchase a land in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu."
Dangal said that the anti-graft body has demanded confiscation of his disproportionate assets kept in the name of Amita Lama Sodemba and his wife also.
According to CIAA press note, Khadka purchased a house in the name of Amita Lama Sodemba at CG Hills in Hatigauda, Kathmandu, for Rs 32.5 million and eight ana land in her name at Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, for Rs 40.12 million. He has also purchased a vehicle in her name.
Khadka had also made a payment of Rs 30.50 million to buy another house in the name of Amita Lama Sodemba at old Mahankal VDC’s Ward No 4. "Khadka used to operate bank accounts held by Sodemba at NMB and Citizens Bank," it added.
Since his appointment to the top NOC post in January 2015, Khadka had been involved in several controversies. He was accused of awarding petroleum supply licence to a controversial private company – Birat Birat Petroleum – while the country was witnessing acute fuel shortage following border obstructions in 2015-16. He was also accused of arbitrarily distributing licences to open fuel stations across the country.
The government sacked Khadka from the post of NOC managing director on September 18 after he was accused of irregularities.
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Government forms judicial panel to probe aircraft scam
The sub-committee – led by parliamentarian Rajan KC – under PAC came up with a report concluding that there had been 'corruption' amounting to more than Rs 4.34 billion in the entire aircraft procurement process of the two A330 jets by the NAC and recommended legal action.
The government move has demeaned the anti-graft body CIAA and under valued the sovereign representatives of the people after the government has formed the committee led by former Appellate Court chief judge Gobinda Prasad Parajuli, former Attorney General Narendra Pathak and chartered accountant Madan Sharma. The move could derail independent investigation into the multi-billion-rupee aircraft scam and give impunity to those involved in wide-body aircraft irregularities.
According to communication minister Gokul Baskota, the three-member committee will study the multi-billion scam that is said to be the biggest scam. It has been given 45 days to submit the probe report to the government. "The cabinet formed the commission to look into issues raised over the procurement process according to the Commission of Inquiry Act-1969," said the government spokesperson Baskota in his regular press briefing today.
A sub-committee of the parliamentary PAC led by KC has recommended action against minister Adhikari, former tourism ministers – Jeevan Bahadur Shahi and Jitendra Dev – and secretaries Prem Kumar Rai and Krishna Devkota. The report has concluded embezzlement of Rs 4.35 billion in purchasing wide-body aircraft by Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC).
Shortly after the parliamentary sub-committee publicised its report, the government had expressed its serious objection. Speaking at a government-sponsored TV programme, Janatasanga Pradhanmanri – PM with the People – yesterday evening Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has outrightly rejected the report and advocated for forming an ‘independent committee’ to investigate the case. But the PM's move is unconstitutional and unlawful as the report should be forwarded to the CIAA as the constitutional anti graft body has the only right to move forward with the investigation of corrupotion.
Chairman of the Public Account Committee Bharat Kumar Shah said that he failed to see why the government formed the commission when the committee was still working on the matter.
The full meeting of PAC, which is scheduled for tomorrow, is expected to give necessary direction to the government and the CIAA on wide-body aircraft procurement irregularities on the basis of the 58-page investigation report, prepared after a 20-day investigation by the sub-committee.
The report categorically names NAC managing director Sugat Ratna Kansakar as the kingpin of the corruption. It has also recommended immediate suspension of Kansakar alongside incumbent secretaries Prem Kumar Rai and Krishna Prasad Devkota, and former secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari, who had acted as the NAC chair in the capacity of the tourism secretary.