KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority said on Tuesday that it has written to the government to take departmental action against senior government officials, including a secretary, for their involvement in irregularities while procuring tarpaulins worth millions of rupees for the earthquake survivors and dereliction of duty.

In a statement, the anti-graft body said its investigation found out that Secretary Arjun Kumar Karki and Joint Secretary Basudev Guragain, who were earlier deputed at the Ministry of Urban Development, then Director of Department of Urban Development and Building Construction Shambu KC, CDE Neelam Kumar Dangol and chief financial comptroller Narayan Niraula failed to carry out their responsibilities in the procurement process.

Secretary Karki is currently stationed at  the Ministry Of Physical Infrastructure & Transport.

According to the statement, as tarpaulins worth over Rs 110 million -- supplied by Baniya Traders, Himshikar Supply and Traders, S.P. Enterprises, Rocky Enterprises and Baba Enterprises -- were of substandard quality, it has told the Ministry of Urban Development to take against against them as per the existing laws.

The CIAA further said quantity of tarpaulins supplied was lower than that mentioned in the quotations, and they were quoted more than the usual market prices.