KATHMANDU: Chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Lokman Singh Karki today warned top officials of the board of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) with action if they failed to eliminate corruption and irregularities.
The CIAA chief directed the NEA board Chairman, members and top officials after inviting them to the CIAA headquarters and warned he would open all the graft cases against them as there are still 10 cases pending against NEA officials.
Informing that 11 officials were arrested when two cases were opened, Karki told the authorities that there were 10 more cases pending in the anti-graft body. During the meeting, Energy Secretary Bishwo Prakash Pundit, chairman of the NEA board, Finance Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi, a member of the Board and other top officials, including Managing Director Rameshwor Yadav, were present.
“Karki warned that if they could not control electricity leakage and limit load-shedding by winter, serious action would be initiated against them,” a source privy to the interaction told The Himalayan Times. According to him, Karki had clearly indicated Yadav, who faces investigation on the basis of statements from the recently arrested officials.
He also told the Ministry of Energy and the NEA board to find the truth regarding the transfer scam. Karki also directed the Secretaries to provide essential support to complete national level projects keeping in mind their significance.
According to a press release issued after the interaction, Karki directed officials to decide independently and impartially.
Karki told the NEA to come up with a clear roadmap with regard to construction of Chameliya, Kulekhani III, Upper Tamakoshi and Rahughat electricity projects and to avoid a dangerous situation arising from the transfer scam, which has created problems in electricity storage and supply.
Source : The Himalayan Times