Graft report rekindles fresh concerns over China-aided projects in Nepal

Kathmandu/New Delhi, March 23: Even before a new government officially assumes office in Nepal, certain contentious issues coming to the public domain recently are raising serious questions over the previous government’s economic and ideological connections with China.
Though former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli faced strong political opposition within, and diplomatic resistance outside over security issues, he included several ambitious projects under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has earlier put many other nations in debt trap. Nepal’s Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), on Sunday, filed a corruption case against 21 individuals, including two Chinese officials, alleging the misappropriation of Nepali rupees 461.5 million (about Indian rupees 288.4 million) during the construction of Pokhara International Airport, according to a Kathmandu Post report.
The graft body has pointed out alleged embezzlement through contract manipulation and consultancy payments outside the agreed terms, the report said, adding that the project was financed by China. The CIAA has also alleged that China CAMC Engineering Co Limited, as the contractor, acted with malafide intent from the outset to influence and secure the project, the newspaper added.
CIAA is a premier constitutional body established to combat corruption and its pervasive influence in the country.
According to The Kathmandu Post, CAMC Chairman Wang Bo and project manager Yang Zhigang has also been implicated, with the CIAA seeking Nepali Rupees 461.58 million from them.
Incidentally, Nepal’s aviation sector has been facing several problems, including safety issues, and has been on the European Union’s blacklist since 2013.
Earlier, the then Oli government had asked a retired judge of Nepal’s Supreme Court to lead a committee to identify the shortcomings at many airports built to boost tourism, including the one at Pokhara, and suggest remedies with help of experts. (IANS)