Nepal: anti-corruption authority slams water authority for tender irregularities

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has claimed that the Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) has committed irregularities in the supply and delivery of ductile iron pipes fitting and MS pipes. Issuing a press release, the CIAA has said while awarding the contract, the NWSC had not properly called the tender-bid.

It accused that the technologies used in the iron pipes were not of standard level. The Nepal Water Supply Corporation has not made any provision for making the registration of its tender-bid at the NWSC Butwal Branch and failed to open tender-bid at its central office. Moreover, the irregularities have also been seen after the period of bid validity and bank guarantee was extended. The task of purchasing pipes and fitting supplies too was full of shortcomings. So, the CIAA has directed the NWSC not to commit such mistakes while awarding tender-bids to the suppliers and make all its financial dealings transparent.

The CIAA is also investigating irregularities at Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL). Complaints have been filed at CIAA about the irregularities in water supply from the Bode Treatment Plant of the company. The investigation was started after the CIAA got information of involvement of chiefs of the company, branch office and distribution section for making unequal distribution of water through its different branches and supplying water in different areas after collecting money illegally.

KUKL staff are objecting to the appointment of former legal officer at the KUKL Hemraj Bhattarai as the CIAA investigation officer. They claim that many irregularities took place while Bhattarai was in office and that he could misuse the investigation to hide his own eventual wrong doings.

But, Chief Commissioner of the CIAA Lalit Bahadur Limbu told that the Bhattarai had been sent as a technical expert. “We have sent Bhattarai for monitoring as he knows about water supply systems,” said Limbu, adding, “If there are irregularities, there will be strong investigation.”

Source: The Rising Nepal / NGO Forum, 28 Oct 2009 ; Kantipur / NGO Forum, 27 Oct 2009

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