A parliamentary sub-committee led by Member of Parliament (MP) Rajendra Lingden has implicated 15 officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) in alleged corruption during the construction of Pokhara International Airport, estimating losses of NPR 10 billion.
The report, submitted to the Public Accounts Committee, names current Director-General Pradeep Adhikari and former DGs Sanjiv Gautam and Rajan Pokharel, among others, demanding immediate investigations.
Other accused include senior officials Vinesh Munakarmi, Chandmala Shrestha, Praveen Neupane, Rajendra Poudel, and Baburam Poudel. While the sub-committee identified 15 employees as responsible, junior-level staff names were withheld.
The investigation uncovered widespread irregularities, including a NPR 2 billion and 224 million loss from unauthorized tax exemptions and payments of NPR 230.2 million for in incomplete excavation work.
Additional discrepancies include US$ 5 million 499 thousand paid for undocumented gravel supply and US$ 742 thousand improperly spent on an HVAC system of the airport. Payments for runway, taxiway, and drainage construction—totaling US$10.648 million—were made without completed work.
The report alleges that officials manipulated procurement laws, formed biased committees to inflate costs, and approved payments for undelivered services. The committee has urged strict action against those involved in the mismanagement.
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