Probe sought into plane procurement

Kathmandu, September 6

Lawmakers from the main opposition Nepali Congress raised the issue of alleged corruption in the purchase of two wide-body aircraft by Nepal Airlines Corporation.

The opposition lawmakers demanded that the House of Representatives form a committee to probe the deal and find out if any irregularity was committed in the purchase of the wide-body planes.

Lawmakers also said that Nepal Airlines Corporation Regulation was violated in the procurement of the two wide-body aircraft.

Lawmakers from main opposition Nepali Congress Dilendra Prasad Badu and Ram Bahadur Bista and independent lawmaker Prem Suwal requested the House to from a parliamentary committee to probe alleged irregularity in the purchase of the planes.

Quoting the annual general audit report of 2017-18, which was released by Office of the Auditor General recently, lawmaker Badu said the reports had stated that irregularity was committed in the purchase of the wide- body planes.

“There is a case of irregularities of up to Rs 6.59 billion, why is this House not taking any step?” Badu asked during a special hour debate.

Lawmaker Bista said according to the annual report of Office of the Auditor General almost six billion rupees had been embezzled out of Rs 24 billion. “Why is the government not doing anything on this issue?” he wondered.

Lawmaker Suwal also said that government money was embezzled in the purchase of wide-body planes and that the issue should be thoroughly probed.