Politicians bleed state coffers

KATHMANDU, March 28: A lawmaker and former Central Working Committee (CWC) member from Nepali Congress Amaresh Singh enjoys a vehicle facility from the government since past few years. He, however, neither holds a public position nor is entitled to such a facility under any government rules.

The Home Ministry not only provides him 120 to 150 liters of petrol every month but also pays for keeping a driver and for regular servicing and necessary maintenance of the vehicle.
Never mention the cost incurred by the state for his personal security officers.

Similar is the case of UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel. Home Ministry has given him a vehicle, a driver, and provides over 150 liters of petrol each month. The servicing and maintenance cost of his vehicle also comes from the state coffers.

The cases in point are glaring examples how government facilities are misused. “There are no rules on who is entitled to such facilities. Anyone with political clout acquire government vehicles for personal use,” said a senior official at Home Ministry. “Hundreds of millions of rupees a year could be saved if only we can put a check on the misuse of government vehicles.” Government officials also say the number of vehicles misused under Home Ministry is relatively small compared to other ministries like Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Supply that have a large number of vehicles at disposal.

The cabinet decisions made at a time when Maoist insurgency was at its peak also opened the floodgate for the misuse of government vehicles.

The then government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba on December 6, 2004 made a decision to provide vehicles and security personnel to the former ministers, deputy prime ministers and home ministers in view of the Maoists threats. Though the former rebel party, now itself part of the government, has already embraced the mainstream politics relinquishing its threatening stance after the 12-point agreement in 2006, the decision taken by the Deuba government is still in practice.

The Home Ministry provides a former prime minister with two vehicles (one for security personnel), a driver, two personal security officers (PSO) from Nepal Police and 13 Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, and 200 liters of petrol a month. Likewise, former deputy prime minister and home ministers are provided with two PSOs from Nepal Police, seven APF personnel, one driver, two vehicles and 200 liters of petrol a month.

Currently, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Lokendra Bahadur Chanda, Surya Bahadur Thapa, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal are receiving the facilities from Home Ministry in their capacity as former prime ministers. Likewise, Purna Bahadur Khadka, K P Sharma Oli, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Bam Dev Gautam and Bhim Rawal are receiving vehicles and other facilities in their capacity as former home ministers.

“It is understandable to give certain facilities, for a limited time, to former prime ministers as state honor. But how can the state afford to provide such facilities life-long to ministers when there are new faces in the government every six months or so?” questioned an official. “The state can not simply afford to do that.”

Officials complain whoever assumes the charge of Home Ministry seeks a new vehicle and takes it away while leaving the office as former Home Minister Bhim Rawal recently did.

Despite strong protests from Home Ministry officials, Rawal had purchased a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero at the cost of about Rs 10 million. Serving as home minister for only a year, he left with same vehicle -- now in his personal use -- after the fall of Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government.

“Even if the government decides to give vehicle and facilities to former ministers, the ministry should have the final say on the matter,” argue the officials at the Home Ministry.

Misused vehicles will be taken back: SAC Chair Dhakal

The parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) has asked the government to submit details of government vehicles being used by politicians, senior bureaucrats, and officers of the Nepal Police and Nepal Army by April 3. Likewise, Parliamentary Account Committee has demanded that the home ministry furnish details of government vehicles being provided to politicians and others by March 30. In this context, Republica talked to SAC Chairman Ram Nath Dhakal. Excerpts:

Republica: Why did you seek the details of government vehicles?

Dhakal: We sought the details to know whether the reports about misuse of government vehicles are true. We have sought the details with chief secretary, home ministry and defense ministry of the vehicles being used by politicians, senior bureaucrats, officers of the Nepal Police and Nepal Army, and members of constitutional bodies.

Republica: What actions will be taken if your study showed that the government vehicles are actually being misused?

Dhakal: State Affairs Committee will conduct a comprehensive study of the details provided by chief secretary, home and defense ministries. We will study whether the legal grounds, if any, on whose basis of which the vehicles are provided are reasonable enough. If the vehicles have been provided unnecessarily, we will direct the authorities to withdraw such facilities. We will issue strong directives not to misuse the vehicles if we found that the vehicles are being actually misused. We will also work toward amending such legislation if they are not convincing enough.

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=29676