PAC directs NT to scrap bridging project

KATHMANDU, AUG 02 -

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the legislature-parliament on Tuesday directed the Nepal Telecom (NT) to bring all its procurement process through Public Procurement Act.

The PAC meeting held this morning ordered the NT to scrap the bridging project (a stop-gap arrangement) which was initiated without following due tender procedures.

The bridging project has economic irregularities and abuse of authority, PAC sources confirmed.

The NT had planned to procure around 1.1 million GSM mobiles and 0.4 million CDMA lines without calling a tender as per the law.

The PAC has also directed to announce fresh bidding and scrap 1.5 million lines which were due to be purchased without bidding process.

Under the IP CDMA project, NT has targeted to add 2 million CDMA lines with focus on rural areas. It has also planned to set to call a global tender for the 10 million GSM lines, bearing in mind the market demand for up to 2015. - Ekantipur Report