KATHMANDU, April 18: A report on the corruption involving the Pokhara International Airport (PIA) prepared by the parliamentary subcommittee has been submitted to the Public Account Committee.
The Sub-Committee coordinated by lawmaker Rajendra Prasad Lingden carried out a thorough investigation on the construction process of PIA and submitted the report. The Sub-Committee members were Arjun Narsing KC, Aman Lal Modi, Gokul Prasad Banskota, Janardan Sharma, Tara Lama Tamang, Deepak Giri, Dev Prasad Timilsina, Prem Bahadur Ale and Ram Krishna Yadav. Discussion on the report would be made in the PAC, the Sub-Committee shared.
The panel had conducted the study and monitoring of the PIA in response to the questions raised from multiple sectors over the irregularities in the construction process. The monitoring was done as per PAC's decision made on June 9, 2024.
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During the field visit and inspection, the subcommittee held discussions with stakeholders, locals and experts.
It brought forth the report incorporating multifarious issues ranging from physical infrastructure, equipment, runway, to vicinity.
The PIA was constructed at the cost of Rs 22 billion with the loan from EXIM Bank of China. The undertaking was over on December 29, 2022.
Although the facility was officially launched in January 2023, the airport has not witnessed international flights except few chartered ones. Only domestic service is available there.
The Sub-Committee report would divulge the problems that plagued the construction process, which is expected to help the government take further decisions on it, the subcommittee argued.
