KATHMANDU, Nov 6: Lawmakers have called for a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the cancellation of the contract process for the Sunkoshi-Marin Multipurpose Diversion Project and alleged irregularities surrounding the decision.
The lawmakers submitted a formal request to committee chair Bharat Bahadur Khadka, urging him to convene a meeting. Under the House of Representatives Regulations, the committee chair is required to call a meeting within five days if at least one-fourth of its members submit such a request.
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Congress lawmakers Yogesh Gauchan Thakali and Janak Giri personally submitted the request to Khadka. Parliament Secretariat spokesperson Ekaram Giri confirmed that the application had been registered.
Last Saturday, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat reportedly had Director General of the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Dinesh Rajauria and project director Krishna Prasad Rijal taken into police custody before directing the cancellation of the contract process, citing Section 3(2) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
Committee members have objected to the cancellation, arguing that the procurement process for the construction of the project’s headworks and powerhouse had already reached its final stage when it was scrapped unlawfully and without a valid basis.
The lawmakers stated in their application that the committee could not remain silent over the suspension of the project’s contract process, as its primary responsibility was to ensure financial discipline by monitoring whether public funds were being used transparently, economically and in accordance with established regulations.
