Kathmandu, December 25
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari says the government released funds for the procurement of two wide body aircraft for the national flag carrier after consulting the Auditor General.
Talking to lawmakers at a meeting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Minister Adhikari said that the Auditor General advised him to make the payment for the two NAC aircraft. “He told me that we could look into the case after the payment is made. That was why we released the payment,” Minister Adhikari told lawmakers.
The minister’s comments come as the Auditor General has raised questions about the procurement process employed by the NAC. The Auditor General’s Office has said that the NAC violated procurement rules by amending its global tender notice to allow unqualified companies to file their bids. Meanwhile, the NAC has defended its decision by saying that it has duly followed the law to procure the two aircraft.
