By Babbler 

Reports state that Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, a prime minister in waiting, are not satisfied with empowering the CIAA. The Parliament sub-committee prepared an amendment bill on CIAA with the provision of even investigating the cabinet decision intended to the policy-based corruption. PM Oli has put pressure form not bringing such a bill to Parliament avoiding the possible CIAA intervention in the decisions made by the council of ministers.

Clearly, PM Oli and his partner Deuba don’t want to empower CIAA, which may open their own files.   

The two leaders have already earned enough money. They could spend the rest of their lives in building the nation. Even though, they are not satisfied. Empowering the CIAA is important for good governance but the two leaders have felt that they are to continue as the PM forever.

Helpless Prime Minister

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli is not satisfied with the performance of the civil servicemen. He held a meeting with senior bureaucrats and expressed his unhappiness.

However, the senior bureaucrats expressed their dissatisfaction that in ministerial-level decisions, bureaucrats have been victimized but the political leaders getting clean chit. In such an environment, the officers don’t want to risk their careers, the bureaucrats replied.

We know, rampant corruption exists in every ministry and the ministers are involved in money-making business, still, they get clean chit. In such an environment, the expectation of open-hearted support from bureaucracy for effective governance is impossible.   

Attempt to oust Kulman Ghising

Now, the government led by K.P. Sharma Oli is making efforts to oust Kulman Ghising, managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority.

The mistake committed by Ghising is that he tried to collect billions of rupees worth of dues against the use of electricity in their industries.

Deepak Bhatta, an influential broker, is lobbying and influencing the government for not paying the dues by a group of businessmen running their industries.

PM Oli and Water Resources Minister Deepak Khadka, also known to be a businessman, who has not paid billions of rupees worth of dues to the Nepal Scout, gave an order to Ghising to resume electricity to the industries which was cut down by Ghising, according to the NEA regulation.

Ghising can be terminated by using special executive power enjoyed by Oli but the question is related to the misuse of the government revenue. Shouldn’t Oli and Khadka be punished for abusing their authority by misusing the government revenue?

Aviation business

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), under political pressure, is constructing one after another airport in different districts, most of them are unused as no flights are being operated there.

The government-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation has no aircraft to fly in the domestic destinations. Years ago, the Corporation had owned a dozen Twin Otter aircraft to fly to remote and STOL airports. Now, there are only three STOL aircraft with the Corporation. Presently, all three aircraft are grounded and the Corporation has suspended all domestic flights. Around 250 staffers involved in operating Twin Otter aircraft from pilots to ground handling staffers are getting salaries and facilities without work. The first duty of the government is to provide aircraft to the Corporation. If the Corporation lacks running capital, the government should lend funds. The government's job is to provide facilities to the people from remote areas. For this, the government should support the Corporation instead of making the institution a party workers recruitment venue.

International airfare and Nepal’s tourism industry

The government has imposed a tax on air tickets. Besides, the government-owned Nepal Oil Corporation is also taking a huge margin of benefit and the government has imposed tax on the aircraft fuel. This is why the air tickets to Kathmandu have become expensive. Moreover, the national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation, has only four aircraft to fly in international destinations. Many foreign airlines are flying to Kathmandu but our own airline is unable to fly to all the foreign destinations the foreign aircraft are flying.

If Nepal could fly to all the destinations that the foreign airlines are flying to, the monopoly market of foreign aircraft could be ended and the airfare could be cheaper.

Sad to know that as airfare from Kathmandu to different destinations is expensive, Nepalis, to save money, are travelling to Bagdogra, West Bengal, India, to fly to different international destinations.

Already we have two other international airports but foreign airline companies are not interested in flying to the two airports. If the government give a concession and if the airfare from the two newly constructed airports is cheaper, people will travel there either by bus or by domestic airlines and travel to foreign countries. In this way, the two airports could also get business. Has the government thought on this part?

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Excerpted and translated by Sushma Shrestha

The problem lies in the leadership. The country cannot move forward until the wrong system brought by this wrong leadership is changed.  

Rajendra Lingden

 Change is possible not through dreams but through perseverance, self-confidence, and constant effort.

Khusbu Oli

The Nepal Army has already started organizing various programs while observing the Prithivi Anniversary as the National Unity Day on Pous 27. It is commendable. However, this is not just a historic opportunity for the military. Prithvi Narayan Shah and our ancestors handed over Nepal to us. Let's all be proud of Nepal.

Dhruba H Adhikary

The agenda of the people's movement was not republic, secularism and federalism.

Bhim Rawal

Undoubtedly, Mahendra was the King admired by all.

Swagat Nepal

Service recipients are unable to get government service without bribing the officials.

Prithivi Subba Gurung, Government’s spokesman and Minister.

Indian nationals have occupied and cultivated our land. This issue should be resolved through diplomatic efforts.

Ramesh Lekhak, Home Minister