KATHMANDU: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) warned top officials of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) for not seriously working to collect the charges from hotels and lodges.

“Since their explanation was not satisfactory, warning has been issued to the CNP officials as per the Section 12 of the CIAA Act, 2048 BS,” the CIAA stated in a press release issued here today.

The anti-graft body also added that Chief Conservation Officer Megh Bahadur Pandey, Shibha Raj Bhatta and Director General of Department of

Conservation of Wildlife and

National Parks, Shyam Sundar Bajimaya, did not perform

their duty to collect the royalty and other necessary charges from the hotels.

The CIAA stated that due to their inaction, the government faced a loss of Rs 22 million since many resorts, hotels and lodges did not pay the charges.

Among others, Gaida Wildlife Camp is yet to pay Rs 5 million while Machan Wildlife Resort has not paid Rs 2 million

to the CNP.

The CIAA also added that it had given three-month deadline to pay the same. The body had, however, added that as Island Jungle Resort, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Temple Tiger Jungle Lodge Resort Pvt Ltd and Safari Narayani Hotel Pvt Ltd had paid the charges, there was no need to take action against them.