The National Special Committee for Disaster Management, Monitoring and Direction, which is headed by CA Chairman Subas Nembang, asked the government to make public the probe report submitted by the National Vigilance Center on irregularities during the purchase of tents and tarpaulins by the Ministry of Urban Development. The committee has also asked the government to inform it regarding any action the government has taken against the ministry as recommended in the probe report.According to the probe report submitted by the vigilance center to the prime minister two weeks ago, the tents purchased by the ministry were of poor quality. The report pointed out that around 5,500 tents were missing out of the total of 27,700 purchased in the first phase. But the report is gathering dust at the prime minister's residence at Baluwatar despite his frequent assurances about taking action against bodies involved in any irregularities.
Likewise, the committee also directed the Home Ministry to inform it whether or not the District Disaster Relief Committee in Nuwakot has probed allegations that 300 bundles of corrugated sheets supplied by Nepal Investment Bank for distribution to quake-hit community schools in the district were being carried back to the capital for sale in the market here.
"If the district committee is yet to carry out the investigation, we direct the ministry to expedite the probe and submit the report to the parliamentary committee within three days of its completion," said Nembang.
Earlier, locals in Nuwakot had seized 300 bundles of corrugated sheets that were found being taken back to the capital. They handed over the sheets to the District Administration Office. They accused Ramesh Mahat, personal secretary of Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat, of trying to sell the corrugated sheets. Following the allegation, the minister's aide resigned from his post.
Similarly, the committee has drawn the attention of the government to reports that the Social Welfare Council purchased and distributed relief materials worth Rs 20 million to quake victims without adhering to the relief materials distribution directives issued by the government. "So, we also ask the government to probe whether the council distributed relief materials arbitrarily or in accordance with the directives, and submit the probe report to the committee within three days of the completion of investigations," added Nembang.
The committee has expressed serious concern over the recent decision to prolong the designation of the three districts of Kathmandu Valley as a 'crisis zone' for a year even as the government claims that the crisis is over and it is ready to welcome foreign tourists.
The committee has likewise asked the government to finalize the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report and forward it for review within three days. It also asked the government to inform the committee about the initiatives taken by the government to prevent human trafficking in the aftermath of the earthquake.
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