A controversial bureaucrat, Rai was recently transferred to the reserve pool of the Ministry of General Administration.[break]
Concluding that there was mala fide intention behind Rai´s decision to lease some 160 ropanis of government land, situated at Balaju Park in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No. 16, to a private company for the next 20 years, the CIAA asked government authorities not to assign him any important duties.
Rai, in his capacity as chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), had decided to lease the land flouting provisions incorporated in the Public Procurement Act and instructions issued by MoLD. Expediting a file pending at KMC for the last five years, Rai decided to lease the land at prices calculated five years earlier.
There is a wide gap between the prices calculated five years ago and prices now. However, Rai had decided to lease the land at the old prices, thereby incurring a big loss to the state.
"It is the duty of the KMC chief to protect and promote government lands," reads the CIAA´s instruction, adding, "Contrary to his duty, Rai is found to have taken an illegal, impractical and controversial decision incurring a loss to state coffers."
The CIAA said Rai´s move over the government land violates legal provisions. "Rai´s decision was impractical and damaging to the state," says the instruction.
The CIAA further said that Rai flouted the Public Procurement Act in deciding to lease the land and receive personal benefit from the deal.
"The CIAA doesn´t agree with Rai´s decision to lease government land to someone without adhering to the Public Procurement Act and only on the basis of personal judgment," the CIAA added.
Rai had agreed to a proposal floated by some groups who said they would invest Rs 330 million in the land and run various businesses there.
"We smell rat behind Rai´s motive in taking such an inappropriate and damaging decision," said the CIAA source, adding, "Complaints lodged at the commission show that Rai was allegedly involved in receiving a bribe before taking the decision."
CIAA, the national anti-graft body, also said that the land in question is environmentally and historically important and sensitive as a source of drinking water for Kathmandu.
"Despite being aware that the land was important and sensitive, Rai took the harmful decision. This is a severe lapse on the part of a government employee and hence Rai shouldn´t be given any important role in the days to come," the CIAA further states.
The commission has asked the new chief of KMC to immediately revoke the deal and initiate steps for protecting and promoting government lands.
The Local Development Ministry had allowed KMC to use the land for a certain period but not to lease it to someone else.
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