More than one crore given as schemes for infrastructure development in Far-West without bidding

Dhangadhi: In the Far-West, the practice of giving more than one crore as schemes to the consumer committee against the rules has been increasing.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, which has been implementing the highest development budget, has started offering more than Rs 10 million to the Consumers Committee which is against the rules. 

According to Rule 97 of the Public Procurement Rules 2064, up to 10 million as schemes can be granted to the Consumer Committee, but Water Resources and Irrigation Division Offices Kailali and Kanchanpur have implemented more than 10 million as schemes through the Consumers Committee.

A plan of Rs. 92.91 million has been implemented for the control of nine rivers through the Consumer Committee. The Office of the Auditor-General has said that there is no manpower, equipment, and managerial capacity to control such activities. The Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office Baitadi has also given three drinking water schemes worth Rs. 381.67 million to the Consumers Committee for implementation. 

One hundred and twenty-one consumer committees through the Water Resources and Irrigation Division Office Kailali and Kanchanpur have spent Rs.27 crore 59 lakhs 65 thousand. 

Similarly, Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Offices Kailali, Baitadi and Dadeldhura have directly purchased pipes worth Rs 116.17 million. Rule 31 of the Public Procurement Rules 2064 stipulates that more than 2 million construction works or goods should be procured through bids.

Most of the plans of the offices under the ministry are incomplete. According to the Office of the Auditor General, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of the Far-West has reached 462.32 million rupees. Out of the 195.64 million disbursements, 271.764 million remain to be disbursed. The accountant general has suggested taking action against those who spend money outside the jurisdiction.