NPC officials on foreign junkets, neglecting work

KATHMANDU, Dec 7: The government assigned the tasks of reconstruction to the National Planning Commission three weeks ago, but half a dozen officials of this apex planning body are in foreign junkets instead of devoting themselves to the important tasks at hand. The NPC has been asked to lead the efforts aimed at rebuilding homes, schools and health posts that were damaged in the earthquake, but NPC officials don't seem serious about the task, a source at NPC said seeking anonimity to avoid the wrath of the senior officials.

Joint Secretary Gopinath Mainali is attending the 21st Paris Climate Conference while Joint Secretary Lal Shankar Ghimire and Under Secretary Rabiman Sainju are in Thailand for a United Nations' program.

NPC Vice-chairman Yubaraj Khatiwada, too, had gone to Thailand to attend the same program and has already returned. Joint-secretary Pushpal Shakya flew to Belgium on Saturday to participate in a program and will return on Thursday. NPC's Secretary Suresh Man Shrestha returned from Japan on Sunday after a week long trip.

NPC sources said the junkets were pre-planned and such trips usually take place in December, the closing month of a fiscal year for development partners. Meanwhile, Vice-chairman Khatiwada himself has set this frequency of trips in an agenda of the meeting of the commission to be held on Monday at NPC.

NPC Spokesperson Tulsi Prasad Gautam said such trips are organized based on invitations from various organizations but NPC is now thinking about controlling such trips.

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