Kailali Godavari Mayor accused of irregular travel and office expenses

Dhangadhi: The Auditor General’s report for fiscal year 2080/81 has revealed that Godavari Municipality Mayor Birendra Bhatta charged travel and vehicle expenses in violation of regulations.

According to the report, Mayor Bhatta claimed Rs 344,880 for vehicle fare and travel expenses during his visit to Kathmandu, including vehicle rental, retail expenses, and daily travel allowances. The Auditor General stated that there is no provision under the Travel Expenses Regulations for separate vehicle fare during official visits.

The municipality also disbursed Rs 2,783,255 in travel expenses to employees and office bearers, with most expenses incurred over seven days without clear objectives. The report highlighted that the effectiveness of such expenditures was not ensured.

In addition, Godavari Municipality spent Rs 11.758 million on office bearers’ facilities. The Auditor General noted that current expenses were made without balancing internal income with employee and office bearers’ benefits, recommending frugality in spending.

The municipality wrote off Rs 9,156,626 as incentive allowances to employees and spent Rs 1,468,850 on meetings for office bearers and employees. Of Rs 707,850 paid to the mayor’s personal secretary Dilip Kumar Saund and the deputy mayor’s personal secretary Dhan Bahadur Khadka, Rs 499,950 was identified as irregular, and the Auditor General has directed the municipality to regularize this expenditure.