PAC directs CAAN to recover Rs 1.95bn dues

Kathmandu, May 19

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Legislature Parliament has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to recover all its dues from different organisations related to CAAN. A committee meeting held today directed CAAN to recover dues worth Rs 1.95 billion immediately as per the commitment made by aviation sector regulator to the committee.

“Earlier, about two weeks back we had held discussions related to these issues with CAAN. During that time CAAN had submitted a written commitment to the committee to deal with these issues immediately,” said Rojnath Pandey, secretary of PAC. Based on that commitment the PAC has directed CAAN to recover its dues and submit its work progress timely to the committee, he added.

As per CAAN, it had to collect dues worth Rs 2.51 billion of which it has been able to recover around Rs 560 million till mid-May.

CAAN has to recover dues from different airline companies that are in operation and also those that are not in operation including both national and international airline firms. Likewise, government bodies and private companies also have dues to pay to CAAN.

Meanwhile, PAC has directed CAAN to blacklist those foreign airline companies that are not operating in Nepal at present and take further steps to recover the dues. PAC has also directed the aviation sector regulator to call a tender to allot shops and parking area on lease as the contract of several shops has already been terminated. CAAN has been given a two-month deadline by the committee to sort out issues related to shops.

“Besides, it is crucial to control the rampant taxi fares being charged from passengers at Tribhuvan International Airport,” Pandey said, adding, “So, CAAN has been directed to conduct frequent inspections and set a regular taxi fare at the airport.”

Meanwhile, PAC has also directed CAAN to cooperate with the office of the chief justice to resolve a few pending cases that CAAN had filed at the Supreme Court, Pandey added.