The solar panels were distributed to the locals of Rowa and Mangri VDCs with partial financial help from the District Development Office's climate change support project.
However, after the solar panels failed to work, the locals, realizing that they had been deceived, started returning them. Reuli BK of Rowa VDC-8 reached the DDC office to return the counterfeit solar panels. As no staff was present there, he then went to KB Suppliers, the supplier of the solar panels. Keshav Chaulagain, the proprietor, assured BK that he would get the panels repaired.
The 10 watt solar panels cost Rs 5,000 in the market, but were sold by KB Suppliers at a marked up price of Rs 10,000.
"The project had contributed Rs 700,000 and the locals of two targeted VDCs chipped in the remaining Rs 300,000," informed Bhakta Bahadur Bhandari, coordinator of the program.
Although a sealed bid for procurement was announced, the contract was handed over secretly to KB Suppliers, according to sources. Following the controversy, the company forged the purchase rates with Gamgadhi-based Dhaulagiri Solar Company and Chaulagain Electronic Center, according to a source at the DDC.
The source also claimed that KB Suppliers had offered a bribe of Rs 100,000 each to the two solar companies and also to the project head in an attempt to hide its wrongdoings.
Related story
Tapping into the sun
