Speaking to media persons at his residence in Baluwatar, the prime minister said, “I am well aware of widespread corruption in some ministries. I have already started investigation and will take appropriate action soon.”[break]
PM admitted that malpractices are rampant in the ministries, including the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Ministry of Local Development (MoLD), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM), among others.
When asked why he has been unable to abide by his own commitments to take action against the guilty, he said, “Initially I was very much focused in maintaining good governance. But I failed to check corruption.”
“I will put in extra effort to maintain good governance and transparency,” he added.
He further admitted that the ministers failed to fulfill their duties in a responsible manner. He said civil servants are equally to blame. “I have found bureaucrats frequenting the doors of politicians. This trend has promoted corruption in the civil service.”
He said that he was not in favor of transferring the secretaries and other bureaucrats. “I have been asking ministries to implement decisions by using the existing human resources,” he said.
The prime minister also informed that appointments in various constitutional bodies will be made soon. “The government has already taken steps in this regard,” he added.
Taking action against Rai a challenge: PM
PM Bhattarai told media persons that taking action against Joint Secretary Ganesh Rai, who has recently been transferred to reserve pool at the Ministry of General Administration (MoGA), has become a challenge for him.
“I invited and held talks with Rai,” the prime minister said, “At my first meeting with him, I found him irrational, undisciplined and disobedient. I asked him to take immediate steps with regard to some problems facing Kathmandu Metropolitan City within a week. He, however, turned a deaf ear.”
On Saturday, Rai left for Ecuador with seven delegates in the capacity of chief of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. “This has really become a challenge for me. I will seriously follow this case,” said Dr Bhattarai.
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