13 apply for NTA chairman

KATHMANDU, SEP 11 -

Thirteen individuals have applied for the post of chairman of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). Likewise, 10 applied for the NTA board member, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

However, the ministry has not disclosed the names of candidates. Monday was the final day for submitting applications for the NTA chairman’s position as per the vacancy announcement on Sept 1.

Ministry sources said the 13 applicants for the chairman’s post include Sugat Ratna Kansakar, Vishwa Nath Goel, Shankar Prasad Pandey, Shohan Bahadur Nyachon, Rajiv Prasad Gupta Rouniyar, Kedar Jung Thapa, Shree Krishna Wagle and Digambar Jha. Kansakar and Goel are former managing directors of Nepal Telecom. Kansakar also served as the executive chairman of Nepal Airlines Corporation.

Nyachon, Rouniyar and Thapa are retired officials of the Communication Ministry, while Pandey is former secretary of the Ministry of Education and Jha past managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation. Wagle is former official of Nepal Television, according to the sources. The government will appoint the NTA chairman based on the recommendation of the ministry. “We will recommend the names of the three potential applicants as soon as possible,” said Surya Silwal, secretary at the ministry. He added the ministry would start the selection process in a transparent manner, going through the vision paper submitted by the

applicants on better management and operation of telecom service and interview.

The NTA chairman’s post has remained vacant since August 1, 2012 after Bhesh Raj Kanel resigned, citing dissatisfaction about the ministry’s attitude towards NTA. Sources said although the selection procedure is based on free competition, some aspirants have also started lobbying with political leaders.

“If the government is really serious in developing the telecom sector, it is the best time to choose the best person as there are

over a dozen potential candidates,” said a high-level ministry official.

“As per the past trend, an NTA chairman is appointed based on political power.”

As per the Telecommunication Act 1997, the NTA board consists of five members, including the chairman, who are qualified and experienced as prescribed in the technical and administrative, market management, accounts and auditing or legal field related to the telecommunications service. Currently, NTA has only three members — Girendra Raj Adhikari, Mahesh Prasad Adhikari and Anil Kumar Dhungel — on the board.

Source: The Kathmandu Post