POKHARA: Chief Commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Navin Kumar Ghimire, has stated that numerous complaints have been received at CIAA in recent times regarding irregularities and corruption at the local level.

Increase in corruption at the local level -- which carries the responsibility to make people feel that government is on their side -- would indicate failure of democracy, Chief Commissioner Ghimire said. "It is important to adopt alertness at the federal, provincial and local levels, and to that end the Commission will be vigilant."

Ghimire said this at a programme organised to lay foundation stone of the building to house Commission's Pokhara office. The building is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 147.2 million.

He further said, the Commission now has to be active in minimising corruption. "Maximum corruption takes place at the offices of land revenue, survey and transport, wherein the attention of CIAA will increase." He added that it will be difficult to minimise corruption with the sole efforts of CIAA, and therefore, support of the people would be crucial.

"We do not wish to take away anybody's employment or punish them, however, we are compelled to bring those officials who are corrupt under the purview of law."

Moreover, the Chief Commissioner put stress on the fact that people at large will come to feel the government's presence only if service seekers go back happy after receiving efficient service from the local level.

"No government employee or people's representative has the liberty to fail at good governance."

Meanwhile, Secretary at the Commission, Maheshwar Neupane reiterated, it was indispensable that all citizens move ahead together in this effort to bring down corruption and assist the Commission to boost good governance in the nation.