Reconnecting power lines without payment is policy corruption: Opposition MPs

Kathmandu, November 11 — Opposition parties and independent MPs have protested against the government's decision to allow industries that have not paid their electricity bills to reconnect their power lines, calling it a form of policy corruption. 

During Monday's meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, CPN (Maoist Centre) MP Madhav Sapkota and independent MP Amresh Kumar Singh raised objections, referring to the cabinet decision made on Sunday.

Both MPs were present during the discussion on the bill related to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). They criticized the government for directing the reconnection of power lines to industries that had not paid their electricity bills, calling it a clear example of policy corruption.

Maoist MP Sapkota emphasized that the bill should clearly define policy corruption. 

"Yesterday, the government's decision to reconnect power lines was called policy corruption by the media," Sapkota said.

Similarly, independent MP Amresh Kumar Singh, who spoke towards the end of the meeting, supported Sapkota's comments. He also labeled the decision to reconnect power lines without settling arrears as policy corruption.

"Allowing reconnection of power lines even if the payment is not made by 12 PM is policy corruption," Singh stated. "If we are serious about controlling corruption, those responsible for enabling such policy corruption should be held accountable and investigated."

MP Singh also pointed out that the root cause of corruption lies in the Prime Minister’s office and the office of the former Prime Minister. He stressed that only by investigating the Prime Minister and former Prime Minister can the country effectively move forward in the fight against corruption.