Taskforce soon to reform NTB: Minister
KATHMANDU, JUN 02 - Tourism Ministry has finally responded to the protests launched by the private sector against the misconduct of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
On Sunday, the 33rd day of the protests, Tourism Minister Bhim Acharya assured the disgruntled travel trade entrepreneurs that the government would form a taskforce immediately to make necessary reforms at the NTB, taking into account past and present reports submitted to the ministry.
Following the ministry’s assurance, the agitating travel traders on Sunday decided to halt their protest for the next 24 hours. “If the minister doesn’t keep his word by the next 24 hours, we will come back with a stronger protest,” said Keshav Pandey, senior vice president of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal.
The ministry’s response follows criticism from opposition leaders at Friday’s parliament session. UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal asked the government to immediately address the issue during the house session.
Various other opposition and ruling parties’ leaders have backed the private sector’s protests against financial irregularities at the country’s tourism promotion body.
Minister Acharya has also directed a previously-formed committee to induct private sector representatives and experts and investigate the alleged misconduct at NTB. “We are committed to suspend or take legal action against those involved in financial irregularities after the investigation,” Acharya said in a statement.
On May 11, a three-member investigation committee led by Purna Chandra Bhattarai, joint secretary of the Tourism Ministry was formed and was asked to submit a report within 15 days. However, the committee has not yet submitted its report, citing the lack of cooperation from the government as well as the private sector.
The tourism entrepreneurs had said the “toothless” committee which did not have private sector’s representation was not acceptable to them.
The committee had been asked to study the amended financial bylaws and recommend necessary action. It has also been asked to probe the NTB’s income and expenditure for the past three years and advise the government on the measures to be taken if financial misconduct is detected.
Other tasks given to the committee are studying the complaints filed against the NTB at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority and other agencies, looking into the expenditure of tax money collected by issuing Trekkers Information Management System cards to foreign trekkers and recommending better ways to manage it.
The amended bylaws that have upset the tourism industry have given the NTB’s chief executive exclusive rights to spend freely in excess of the limit set by the Public Procurement Act.
The bylaws also allow the board to award contracts without competitive bidding even though the act says that tenders should be called before doing so.
Under the amendments to the Financial Bylaws that give sweeping powers to the NTB boss to dispense cash, the CEO can spend up to Rs 10 million at a time for tourism promotion activities inside the country.
Similarly, the chief can spend $400,000 at a time outside the country without following any due process of the PPA. The CEO has also been given the power to
spend up to $400,000 at a time through its honorary representatives and firms.
As per the new rules, the NTB can procure goods and services worth up to Rs 2.5 million through a quotation. The board can also purchase goods and services including promotional materials through a single supplier directly through a written proposal.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
