Madhesh Assembly extends deadline of high level parliamentary probe body

By Dhirendra Prasad Shah,Janakpur, April.11: The eighth meeting of the first session of the Madhes Provincial Assembly held on Monday decided to extend the deadline of the high-level parliamentary investigation committee till mid-May. 

In addition, a proposal has also been presented to introduce a bill related to provincial sports development. 

Chairperson of the committee, Ranikumari Tiwari, informed the assembly that 529 projects which were completed in the fiscal year 2021/22 needed studies. 

She also informed that the provincial government has been requested to send technical staff within seven days to conduct an on-site study of the projects whose payments were pending. 

“However, the government has not been able to provide the required manpower for the study. Though the files related to projects were repeatedly demanded, they were  provided in instalments. This lack of cooperation still continues,” she added. 

Tiwari said despite the shortages of manpower and lack of cooperation, the committee had forwarded its work by hiring subject experts and technical staff on a contract basis. 

“The on-site study of the completed projects in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha and Mahottari districts is underway,” she said. 

The committee so far has concluded on-site inspection, measurement and testing in Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Sarlahi districts to verify that the projects outputs meet the criteria defined during the quality planning, added Tiwari. 

However, she said they did not receive the expected support from the government during the time of investigation. 

Tiwari proposed an extension of the deadline until mid-May citing that the number of projects that the committee needs to study, monitor and measure is high and the lack of expected support from the government. Speaker Ramchandra Mandal informed that the proposal was passed unanimously. 

The high-level parliamentary investigation committee was formed under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Babita Kumari Raut Ishar by the 7th meeting of the first session of Madhes Provincial Assembly on February 16 to study projects and payments of last fiscal year.

Later Raut resigned from the post of Deputy Speaker and Ranikumari Tiwari was elected as the committee chairperson.

The term of office of the committee was said to be 30 days from the date of commencement of work.

 It was mentioned that the procedure of the committee would be regularised by the committee itself under the instructions of the Speaker.

Similarly, in the eighth meeting of the Provincial Assembly, Social Development Minister Surita Sah presented a proposal to introduce a bill related to provincial sports development on behalf of the Chief Minister and Minister for Women, Children, Youth and Sports Saroj Kumar Yadav.

Speaker Mandal informed that the meeting of the Provincial Assembly was postponed until further notice.