Lack of dependable data prompts corruption in hydro sector: TI report

encyKathmandu / Dec 27: Lack of dependable data and manipulation of hydrological data have promoted policy corruption in Nepal’s hydropower sector, according to the Transparency International Nepal’s report published on Monday.

Irregularities start from the stages of project selection and identification and this tendency further flourished in the period of survey and the project implementation, the report states, highlighting a responsible role from the government level to control this practice.

Lack of dependable hydrological data, authentic study, action plans giving dual meaning, lack of transparency in the power purchase agreement and a failure to increase the risk-bearing capacity among power developers have remained major hindrances towards the development of hydropower sector, the TI Nepal concluded.

Environment standard violations, inadequate compensation in regard to land acquisition, false claims, unreasonable local demands, unwarranted contract variations, bias in selection of top officials like board members and CEOs during the construction, procurement and implementation phases are working as a catalyst to bring the hydro sector under the grip of corruption, the report pointed out.

It further stated that corruption is high in the public procurement process and this has promoted to institutionalise corruption.

Factors like political influence exerted in the course of making the national budget, preparing fake document and report, taking forward projects without prior field study and a failure to determine priority-based projects have helped make hydropower of the country non-transparent, the report said.

In the area of private sectors, lengthy and non-transparent government process, a lack of high level commitment and coordination between various ministries, departments and sectors have added to the problem, it added.

Factors behind a Norwegian company quitting the Tamakoshi III are attributed to employee’s mechanism and technical aspect, it said.

To resolve such problems revolving hydropower in Nepal, the report suggested making public procurement process transparent and responsible, conducting a scientific and dependable study of projects and establishing coordination between Nepal Electricity Authority and the Department of Electricity Development.

It also suggested making the National Vigilance Centre professional and accountable, ending corruption and misappropriation at policy level and establishing a permanent mechanism to resolve problems surfaced in projects. RSS