A new first long-range Airbus A330-200 aircraft of Nepal Airlines Corporation is welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, on Thursday, June 28, 2018. Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines power the new aircraft. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT

Kathmandu, December 7

The Parliamentary International Relations Committee today replaced Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Man Singh with Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Deepak Prakash Bhatta as coordinator of the sub-panel to investigate the controversial procurement, ownership and operation of two wide-body aircraft by Nepal Airlines Corporation.

According to a source, Singh was busy with his party’s work, so he didn’t want to lead the sub-committee. The PRC removed two members of the panel. NCP lawmaker Narad Muni Rana was also removed whereas Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal’s lawmaker Renuka Gurung decided to remain in the panel.

NC lawmaker Dibya Mani Rajbhandari, NCP lawmakers Sarala Kumari Yadav and Sudan Kirati were inducted as new  member of the sub-panel. The IRC had formed the sub-panel on November 23. Bhatta said the sub-committee had to finish its job within a month.  The committee has already discussed the controversial procurement of the aircraft with Minster of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari, Secretary Krishna Prasad Devkota and NAC Managing Director Sugat Ratna Kansakar and asking them to furnish documents related to the procurement.

Coordinator Bhatta said that they would investigate the whole process of aircraft procurement. “The sub-panel will investigate and come up with a report,” he said, adding, if necessary the panel would coordinate with other parliamentary committees.

The first wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft was added to NAC’s fleet on June 28 while the corporation acquired the second long-haul aircraft on July 26. Through the procurement of these big aircraft, costing almost Rs 24 billion, NAC intended to fly to long-range destinations including Japan, Korea and Saudi Arabia.

However, NAC’s failure to do so has raised many eyebrows. NAC has been operating the two wide-body aircraft at a huge loss. In fact, the corporation has made earnings worth Rs 264 million through the operation of the wide-body planes between August 1 and September 15, while it has incurred an expenditure of Rs 756 million for their operation in the said period.