Ramesh Prasad Bhusal
Kathmandu,Nepal
According to National Trust for Nature Conservation, which was entrusted with the task of managing the meeting, the total cost of the meeting stood at Rs 72 lakhs. “Of the total, about Rs 24 lakhs was collected from the private sector. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation had promised the rest,” said NTNC Member Secretary Juddha Bahadur Gurung.
But when it came to paying the dues, the tourism ministry passed the buck, saying the ministry was not responsible, as the meeting was not on its agenda. “The ministry was frequently approached through Nepal Mountaineering Association, which had played a key role in organising the meeting, and we had only agreed to work on finding a solution. No decision was taken regarding payments,” said Tourism Secretary Kishore Thapa, adding, “Nor does the ministry have the budget to pay. However, we will consult the concerned ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister regarding this.”
According to NTNC, Rs 24 lakhs collected from the private sector was used up in logistic support. Out of the outstanding Rs 48 lakhs, Rs 27 lakhs is due to the NA and Rs 21 lakhs need to be paid to Shree Airlines.
When the coordinating ministry was contacted, Secretary at MoFSC Yubaraj Bhusal was quick to shrug off the payment issue. “I have no information about financial matters. Even if the payments are due, it’s not our responsibility, as we didn’t make any commitment to this effect,” said Bhusal. The request letters to Shree airlines and the Nepali Army for the flights, though, were sent through NTNC as per the directives from then forest minister Bohara.
Kathmandu,Nepal
A high on the hog Cabinet meeting at Kalapatthar in Mt Everest Base Camp in 2009 had hogged headlines in the country and abroad. But the meeting on climate change now has spoilt the environment in government ministries and among the stakeholders.
While the government is yet to pay its dues, ministries and concerned stakeholders involved in the meeting are passing the buck. The erstwhile Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had called the Cabinet meeting in Kalapatthar on December 4, 2009 to ‘draw the attention of the international community towards melting of Himalayas due to climate change’.
The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation had coordinated the meeting and the then forest minister Deepak Bohara had claimed and reiterated at the meeting that not a single penny would be spent from the state coffers, as he had been able to raise the required fund by passing the hat around.
While the government is yet to pay its dues, ministries and concerned stakeholders involved in the meeting are passing the buck. The erstwhile Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had called the Cabinet meeting in Kalapatthar on December 4, 2009 to ‘draw the attention of the international community towards melting of Himalayas due to climate change’.
The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation had coordinated the meeting and the then forest minister Deepak Bohara had claimed and reiterated at the meeting that not a single penny would be spent from the state coffers, as he had been able to raise the required fund by passing the hat around.
According to National Trust for Nature Conservation, which was entrusted with the task of managing the meeting, the total cost of the meeting stood at Rs 72 lakhs. “Of the total, about Rs 24 lakhs was collected from the private sector. The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation had promised the rest,” said NTNC Member Secretary Juddha Bahadur Gurung.
But when it came to paying the dues, the tourism ministry passed the buck, saying the ministry was not responsible, as the meeting was not on its agenda. “The ministry was frequently approached through Nepal Mountaineering Association, which had played a key role in organising the meeting, and we had only agreed to work on finding a solution. No decision was taken regarding payments,” said Tourism Secretary Kishore Thapa, adding, “Nor does the ministry have the budget to pay. However, we will consult the concerned ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister regarding this.”
According to NTNC, Rs 24 lakhs collected from the private sector was used up in logistic support. Out of the outstanding Rs 48 lakhs, Rs 27 lakhs is due to the NA and Rs 21 lakhs need to be paid to Shree Airlines.
When the coordinating ministry was contacted, Secretary at MoFSC Yubaraj Bhusal was quick to shrug off the payment issue. “I have no information about financial matters. Even if the payments are due, it’s not our responsibility, as we didn’t make any commitment to this effect,” said Bhusal. The request letters to Shree airlines and the Nepali Army for the flights, though, were sent through NTNC as per the directives from then forest minister Bohara.
Source:www.thehimalayantimes.com
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