Bringing NTB back on the right track
It can be expected that the suspension of acting CEO Subash Nirola, who was allegedly involved in financial irregularities worth tens of millions of rupees, will pave the way for introducing reform measures in Nepal Tourism Board.
Acting on the direction of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of legislature parliament, the executive committee meeting of NTB, chaired by tourism secretary Suresh Man Shrestha, had suspended Nirola from the post on October 30. PAC had recommended the tourism ministry, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI) to take action against Nirola based on the report and unaccounted expenses mentioned by the report of the Auditor General.
Much has been written about Nirola and irregularities perpetrated by him in the national tourism organization. A probe committee formed to look into irregularities at the NTB had found transaction of over Rs 800 million by the NTB to be suspicious. The committee confirmed misappropriation of Rs 217.29 million by Nirola and his allies. PAC concluded Nirola was involved in policy corruption. In its report, PAC says Nirola injudiciously spent NTB’s money by influencing the executive committee members. It also states that he doled out funds to different individuals, institutions and media persons to hide his irregularities. The report also said Nirola amended the financial bylaws of NTB as per his wish and spent the institution’s funds on his prerogative.
Nirola could be ousted from NTB because of tireless efforts of the private sector. Tourism entrepreneurs, who were united under Joint Tourism Coordination Committee (JTCC), camped in NTB premises for nearly two months. During the period, they unearthed series of irregularities committed by Nirola. The protest forced the government to start investigation into the irregularities and also form a team to suggest to the government for restructuring of NTB. The team is in the process of finalizing its report.
The executive committee of NTB should make no further delay and immediately start the process to recruit a new CEO. Similarly, it should take the private sector, which is the driving force of the tourism industry, into confidence and consult them on preparation of its annual programs and budgeting. Nirola chose to move ahead by bypassing the private sector and he paid a heavy price for that. People at NTB should learn from Nirola’s mistake. It is good to know that the executive committee of NTB has started consultation with the private sector for preparation of annual programs and budgeting. It is a good beginning.
