Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has urged the government to investigate alleged corruption in the construction of Pokhara International Airport.
The party sent a memorandum to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, through the Civil Aviation Office, Pokhara, calling for a probe in line with parliamentary committee recommendations.
A subcommittee under the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives recently concluded that irregularities were seen in the tendering process. It has recommended action against the then-project chief as well as other technical staff and employees involved in the procurement process.
“As the fourth-largest party in parliament, we strongly demand that the political leadership involved in the decision-making processes during the construction of Pokhara International Airport be brought under the scope of investigation,” Nabin Tripathi, general secretary of the RSP’s Gandaki Province Committee, said in the memorandum.
The RSP has highlighted irregularities like the approval of contracts at inflated costs in violation of the Public Procurement Act and new agreements to grant tax exemptions contrary to the original contract. Established norms were also violated to award contracts to lower Ritthe Danda hill, install air conditioning system, and build a runway, taxiway and drainage line, it added.
