Madan Kharel, managing director of NAC, tendered his resignation on Sunday, citing health reasons.
NAC Spokesperson Ram Hari Sharma said Kharel submitted his resignation to NAC board and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). He has taken a month's leave effective from Sunday itself, Sharma said.
Sources in NAC, however, say Kharel tendered resignation as he was not getting support from the board. "Kharel quitted NAC as he was not getting any support from politically appointed Chairman of NAC board Shiva Sharan Neupane," a source said. "He was also not getting support from the engineering department as well."
Due to the negligence of engineering department, the recently acquired Airbus A320 aircraft had to be grounded last week within just 10 days of the beginning of service.
The source said political interference has increased at the national flag carrier following appointment of Neupane as chairman of the board. Staff members are finding it difficult to perform their responsibilities, the source added.
Kharel had devised a ten-year business plan (2015-2024) for the national flag carrier. But it has not been approved by MoCTCA even though it has nearly been a year that it was submitted. He was appointed to the post 27 months ago for a term of four years through open competition on recommendation of Public Enterprises Directorate Board. Previously, he was working as the commercial director of NAC.
Kharel had been working with NAC for the past 27 years. He played an important role in introducing Airbus aircraft into NAC's fleet. The first of the two Airbus ordered by NAC was delivered to the national flag carrier on February. The second one is expected to join the fleet in April.
During his tenure, Kharel appointed 300 new staff members to strengthen the national flag carrier.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Bahadur Shah, director of Ground Support Department, has been named officiating managing director of NAC.
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