Public Accounts Committee seeks Lal Commission's report on power tariffs

KATHMANDU, JULY 26: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Nepal's House of Representatives has requested the government to provide the report on power tariffs for 'dedicated and trunk lines,' prepared by a probe commission led by former Supreme Court Justice Girish Chandra Lal.

The PAC Chairperson Rishikesh Pokharel yesterday confirmed that the Committee wrote to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resource, and Irrigation to share the report for study purposes.

The Committee also engaged in discussions with business leaders and entrepreneurs regarding the power tariffs issue following the release of the Lal Commission's report. Lawmakers Rajendra Lingden, Arjunnar Singh KC, and Rajan Dahal emphasized the need to implement the Lal Commission's recommendations.

Lawmaker Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh pointed out that industries were receiving power by diverting the supply meant for households. Lawmaker Hari Dhakal suggested that businesspeople should operate legally rather than seeking informal arrangements. Industrialist Pashupati Murarka stated that industrialists are willing to pay tariffs if provided with the TOD Meter.

In another development, the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the Parliament has decided to instruct the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation to submit the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) report within a week. The decision was made yesterday  during a Committee meeting held in Singhadurbar. Committee Chairperson Raj Kishor Yadav urged the Ministry to comply, noting previous requests for the report had gone unanswered.

Furthermore, the Committee has directed the Tourism Ministry to update it on the progress of a bill aimed at separating the licensing and regulatory functions of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). This separation is seen as crucial for improving aviation safety. Most Committee members support advancing the bill to delineate CAAN's jurisdiction clearly.