 |
Kathmandu Wednesday November 21, 2001 Marga 06, 2058.
|
Misusing state funds
The widespread misuse of limited state funds and
resources has always become a matter of grave concern due to ineffective law and poor
implementation. The state-run corporations have maintained no transparency, nor has the
government taken any action against those involved in such irregularities. However,
elected local leaders continue to carry donated materials to their homes. Parliamentarians
misdirect financial resources for their personal benefits, or spend state funds without
much accountability. The absence of proper record on how the state funds are spent points
to this bitter reality: gross irregularities. In fact, corruption has eaten into our
developmental effort as it has into the vitals of the economy as a whole. But the country
is entirely dependent on loans for any developmental effort. There is not a single sector
that has not sought assistance for its development. If successive governments had
mobilised internal resources, the country would not have been witness to poverty, poor
health and infrastructure. Unfortunately that did not happen. What has happened is that
the nexus among politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats has crippled the country’s
development process. Those in high places have misused power and state funds, and flouted
laws to construct buildings at personal benefit.
A self-assessment report prepared by the
Kathamandu Municipal Corporation (KMC) states that elected local representatives misused
state funds over 10 million rupees in the last fiscal year alone. Besides, the KMC paid
over 2.5 million rupees to local representatives for medical treatment. Among those who
misappropriated the state funds included mayor, deputy mayor and various ward chairmen,
besides the ward members. The KMC has allowed local businessmen to construct buildings in
and around world heritage sites and palaces, violating its laws. Local leaders have
encroached upon public land in various parts of the capital city. Yet, the government has
taken no action against those involved in such malpractice. Had there been some
regulations introduced against such activity, the planning of the capital city would have
been definitely better than what it is today. Huge chunk of loans or foreign grants has
been misdirected for personal benefit. Unfortunately, the government continues to turn a
blind eye to what is going around. The number of people living under abject poverty, that
stood at less than 40 percent a decade ago, has increased to 50 percent due to rampant
corruption, among other factors. But how long can such unscrupulous activities go
unabated? It is time the government brought elected officials to book, and introduced a
law to empower CIAA so that it can probe into irregularities independently and
efficiently.
Other Stories
|
