Controversial builder appointed urban development minister

KATHMANDU: Bikram Pandey, a seasoned businessman and chairman of the Kalika Group, has been appointed as the Minister for Urban Development.

Pandey, who is also a vice chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), was elected to the House of Representatives from the Chitwan-2 constituency in the November 20 election. Along with heading a class ‘A’ construction company which is implementing several infrastructure projects, Pandey is now responsible for formulating laws and policies for infrastructure development projects.

It, however, is important to note that Pandey has been accused of irregularities in the implementation of several infrastructure projects in the past. In 2018, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case in the Special Court against him and 20 others, after finding irregularities in the construction of the Sikta Irrigation Project – a national pride project. The anti-graft body claimed that Pandey caused a loss of Rs 2.13 billion for the state.

The Sikta Canal had collapsed twice when the project released water on it during a trial run.

CIAA had argued in its chargesheet that the canal collapsed due to a flaw in the design of the main canal, and that technicians, consultants and construction entrepreneurs didn’t provide necessary supervision during construction.

Interestingly, Pandey is not the only minister in the cabinet facing conflicts of interest. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane is heading the home ministry, while a case against his citizenship is sub judice at the Supreme Court. Similarly, CPN-UML leader Bishnu Poudel, who is allegedly involved in the Baluwatar land grab case, is heading the finance ministry. RSP’s Vice Chairman Dol Prasad Aryal, CEO of Easy Link, has become the Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security.