A committee in Nepal’s Parliament has found major corruption in the building of Pokhara International Airport. The airport, made by a Chinese company with a soft loan from China, lost about Nepalese Rs 14 billion to financial misconduct.
This information comes from a report by a sub-committee under the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives. Rajendra Lingden, a Member of Parliament, led the investigation. His team found serious misuse of money during the project’s work.
Huge Irregularities in the Airport Project
The report shows problems at almost every stage of the project. Around Rs 14 billion went missing or was misused. Because of this, the report asked for a full investigation. Several officials may face legal action.
The report also blamed weak agreements, bad cost planning, and poor management. These problems made it easy for people to misuse public money.
Chinese Company and Loan Deal
The airport was built by a Chinese firm. The money came through a soft loan from China’s Export-Import Bank. This type of loan has easy terms, but many people had raised concerns about the rising project cost.
Although the airport was supposed to help tourism and trade, its rising expenses and weak management have drawn criticism for years. The recent report confirms what people feared.
What the Report Suggests Next
Rajendra Lingden said officials and others responsible should face legal action. The sub-committee asked for a full check of the accounts and more investigations by anti-corruption groups.
He stated, “These are serious issues. We must investigate them carefully and take action against the guilty.”
The team also asked for:
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A full financial audit of the project.
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Names of those involved in the misconduct.
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Action under Nepal’s anti-corruption laws.
Public and International Reactions
The report caused concern in Nepal’s Parliament. Lawmakers and citizens alike are worried about corruption in big projects.
This case also affects Nepal’s foreign ties. Since China has funded many projects in Nepal, problems like this could make future cooperation difficult.
Political analyst Bishnu Rijal said, “Foreign-backed projects must be fair and clear. This case might hurt Nepal’s image and its ties with other countries.”
Pokhara Airport: A Troubled Project
Pokhara International Airport opened in January 2023. It aimed to improve flights and tourism in the area. Yet, from the start, the project saw delays, rising costs, and weak control.
Early reports warned about this. Even though the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal planned for over one million passengers each year, those numbers haven’t arrived. Now, this corruption report adds to the airport’s troubles.
Problems in Other Foreign-Funded Projects
Sadly, this is not the only case like this. Many other projects in Nepal funded by foreign loans have faced delays and budget issues.
Experts suggest stronger checks and public reports. They also want the government to share full project details openly.
Governance expert Ramesh Sharma said, “Nepal must set clear rules for big projects. Regular audits and public updates can stop problems like this.”
The discovery of Rs 14 billion in corruption at Pokhara International Airport shows the challenges Nepal faces with big projects. As investigations move ahead, many are hoping for justice.
