A preliminary investigation carried out by the anti-graft body over a period of two and a half months drew the conclusion that government officials were involved in corruption to the tune of millions of rupees, all in the name of relief distribution to earthquake victims.
Informing about the findings of the investigation on Sunday, CIAA spokesman Krishna Hari Puskar said that a majority of government officials involved in the relief distribution submitted inflated and fake bills and exaggerated reports to the ministries.
CIAA had carried out field investigations on relief distribution in the 14 districts that were severely affected by the April earthquake, deploying over two dozen investigation officials under the leadership of DIG Pashupati Uphadaya. Okhaldunga, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Makwanpur, Gorkha and Sindhuli are the 14 worst affected districts.
The investigation has found that the district disaster relief committees distributed relief materials and money to the earthquake victims for putting up temporary shelters, without making proper evaluations and identifying the real victims.
"Our investigation has found that the local bodies distributed money and relief items on the basis of political connections and personal recommendations. Though the government had allocated Rs 15,000 each to the victims for building temporary shelters, our team found local bodies distributing up to Rs 22,000 to some victims and also to unrelated individuals," said Puskar.
The investigation also found that the Department of Public Health sent medicines near expiry date to the quake victims. "In one case, we found the authorities had purchased medicines from remote Jiri village in Dolakha at higher prices on the ground that these were not available in the capital. This has made us suspect possible corruption," he added.
In Rasuwa, government officials were found spending money meant for purchasing medicines for victims on official activities instead, according to the investigation. Although the 2011 census shows that there were 66,635 houses in Sindhupalchowk district and 45,688 in Dolakha, government data shows that 80,000 houses were completely damaged by earthquake in Sindhupalchowk and 72,889 houses in Dolakha, which is really suspicious, claims the CIAA.
Similarly, the Ministry of Urban Development and Nepal's embassy in New Delhi were found purchasing 120 GSM tarpaulins for up to Rs 14 per sq ft even though the items were available in the market at Rs 4.35, and the items procured were of a low standard.
There is a mismatch between the data on the tarpaulins received by the victims and the records of the items released by the government to local bodies. Similarly, the records on food items sent by the Ministry of Commerce and Supply to the local bodies and the records received by the latter also do not match, CIAA said. Likewise, razor wire purchased by the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation was of low standard. The probe team found that 28 kg razor wire bundles were 8 kg short.
"Our team also found that some victims were given 2 kg of rice seeds while others were given 100 kg even though they were victims in similar circumstances," said Puskar.
He said the Ministry of Education released a budget for building temporary learning centers in the 14 districts but did not monitor whether these were constructed properly.
"Many learning centers did not last for even two months. Government officials have been found acting irresponsibly in the aftermath of the disaster," he further added. The CIAA has said it will carry out detailed investigations into the irregularites.
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