KATHMANDU: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the Legislature-Parliament has started investigations into alleged irregularities in distribution of tents and other relief materials to the earthquake victims.

PAC initiated the discussion based on a study report prepared by the National Vigilance Centre and different ministries.

The Committee has summoned Minister for Urban Development Narayan Khadka and Secretary Arjun Bahadur Karki for discussion in its meeting scheduled for Friday.

Chairman of the Committee, Janardan Sharma, claimed that the report received was not clear and said further study was needed regarding the duty-free arms imported from India, and the import of excavator and other tools.

The meeting also decided to direct the Kathmandu Metropolitan City to stop preparations being made to remove vendors of the City Market near Old Bus Park in the Capital.

Lawmakers elected from various political parties said it was a sad that financial irregularities have been reported in distribution of relief materials at a time a large number of well-wishers in and outside the country collected and supported the quake victims. They demanded a probe into the stock of tents before the April 25 earthquake, and the tents purchased in name of the quake victims and record of the distribution.

Lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada said, as per the report received from the Ministry of Finance, the tariff-free relief materials and some appliances including excavators are found imported from other countries. The government should provide records of their details to the Committee, he added.

Lawmakers Tek Bahadur Basnet, Rupa Maharjan, Parbati DC, Dimple Kumari Jha, Dipak Giri, Eknath Dhakal, Usha Gurung, Dhanaraj Gurung, Mina Pun, Radha Krishna Kandel, Jaydev Joshi, Bharat Saud and Hari Prasad Nepal suggested action if the irregularities were found in the operations.