Massive irregularities in Chameliya: PAC

Massive irregularities in Chameliya: PAC     

    The Public Accounts Committee ( PAC ) of the Legislature-Parliament has concluded that there have been massive irregularities in the Chameliya Hydropower Project . The committee has directed the concerned authority to immediately take action against the guilty.

       PAC Chairman Janardan Sharma directed the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the government to take action against those involved in misappropriation of funds within 10 days.

      Sharma said he issued such directives as the preliminary investigation has shown misuse of around Rs 550 million.

Earlier in September, a subcommittee of the PAC headed by lawmaker Rajendra KC had found massive irregularities behind its cost overruns and had sought CIAA investigation and action against guilty.

         The probe panel under KC found irregularities such as overhead costs higher than those of similar other projects without any basis and cost calculation without ground reality, among others.  

        The cost of the hydropower project being constructed at the Chameliya river of Shikar VDC in Darchula district almost doubled to Rs 15.06 billion from its initial estimated outlay of Rs 8.49 billion due to a massive rise in the variation order.