PAC directs to scrap agreement to lease Ramgram Area

Published On: February 12, 2024 11:45 AM NPT By: RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 12: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the House of Representatives (HoR) has directed to repeal the agreement to acquire a piece of land in Ramgram Area in Lumbini and lease it to a private company for 99 years.

The parliamentary panel in its meeting on Sunday reviewed financial resources for the research, development and conservation related to the Ramgram Area and directed the government to scrap the deal between the Lumbini Development Trust and the Pramista Land Ltd.

Committee President Rishikhesh Pokharel said, "The Committee has decided to direct the government to scrap the agreement related to the Ramgram Area and inked by the Lumbini Development Trust effective from Sunday itself."

"The Committee also instructed the government to take forward further investigations on this issue and ensure that this kind of act does not get repeated in other places," added President Pokharel.

Earlier, the Committee had held discussion with Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Deepak Kafle and Trust's Vice-President Lharkyal Lama among others regarding the issue.

During the discussions, the Committee members argued that the contract should be canceled as it was awarded without competitive bidding process, procurement laws were not abided, commercial infrastructures were being built by omitting the existence of the religious site and the awarded company holds controversial background.

The parliamentary panel has directed the stakeholders not to develop any infrastructures in the Lumbini Area against the standards set by the UNESCO and Department of Archeology.

The parliamentary panel has also directed the government to allocate a budget for the land acquisition in the Ramgram area.

Meanwhile, the meeting has directed the government to immediately release the report of the probe panel formed to investigate the Ncell share deal and provide the report to the Public Accounts Committee.