CIAA investigating suspected irregularities in airport light installation

KATHMANDU, Sept 27: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has launched an investigation into suspected financial irregularities in the installation of perimeter lights at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). A month ago, a CIAA team inspected the installed lights to assess their condition and quality.

Previously, a complaint was filed at the CIAA claiming that most of the lights installed at the airport were of poor quality. The complaint alleges that the Perimeter street lights, which had been installed for airport security, have weak physical structure. According to sources, in the installation project worth around Rs 20 million, over Rs 10 million was embezzled through collusion.

"The work is small, but half the amount has been spent while the other half was embezzled through collusion," the source told Republica, "In a project worth Rs 20 million rupees, not even Rs 10 million worth of lights were installed, and more than Rs 10 million were embezzled through collusion." 

The lights along with the poles have now been removed. "Currently, those poles have been taken out," a source from the airport administration stated. Another light installation is also underway in the Koteshwor area. 

The CIAA has obtained all the documents from the airport administration. After taking control of the documents, a team from the CIAA visited the airport in the first week of September to gather information on the light installation and the poles that were installed before returning.

General Manager of the TIA, Jagannath Niraula, affirmed that the CIAA had requested details regarding the light installation. "The CIAA routinely asks for information on various matters, and we have provided it. This time, they requested information on the light installation, which has been sent. The CIAA is likely working on it," General Manager Niraula said.

He mentioned that he was not aware of any investigation conducted by a team of CIAA employees at the airport. "I have no information about whether CIAA officials came and conducted inspections or investigations," Niraula said.

The light installation was carried out by Mahavir Shri International. At that time, Devendra KC was the general manager of the airport. Perimeter lights were installed after an incident where a naked man was found entering the airport area, raising security concerns. However, sources claim that while lights were installed in some places, bills were submitted showing installations in many areas without actual work being done. The source indicated that some airport staff were also involved in this matter.

A year after the incident involving the naked man entering the airport, the Nepalese Army conducted a study on security risks at the airport in 2078 BS. Based on the report prepared by the army, the airport administration included the expansion of perimeter light installation in its annual work plan. Accordingly, there have been instances of both installing and removing lights at the airport.

According to a study report that highlights the weaknesses in perimeter security at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), areas for improvement, and necessary recommendations for airport security, there are suspicions of irregularities in the installed lights as well.

Not only that, but the CIAA is also investigating the 80 million rupees spent by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) on the installation of the airport's ATC tower in 2077 BS.

ATC tower installations have been completed at the airports in Biratnagar, Rajbiraj, Thamkharka, Phaplu, Nepalgunj, Dang, Rara, Doti, Sanfebagar, Balewa, Rumjatar, and Simikot.

Similarly, the CIAA source has reported that an investigation is also ongoing into the Rs 42.6 million spent by the CAAN on the installation of weather information systems at the airports in Doti, Sanfebagar, Rajbiraj, Rukum, Janakpur, Simra, Balewa, Rara, Chandragadhi, and Bharatpur.

The CIAA is also investigating the Rs 600 million spent on the purchase and installation of equipment and devices for Gautam Buddha International Airport, as well as the Rs 140 million allocated for the purchase and installation of X-ray machines at Gautam Buddha International Airport, and Chandragadhi, Janakpur, Simra, Bharatpur, and Dhangadhi airports.