Smart card plan mired in controversy

ANKIT ADHIKARI
KATHMANDU, AUG 06

A process initiated by the government for implementing the electronic driving licence and embossed number plate system to systematise recordkeeping and monitoring of vehicles has snagged on controversy.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse and Authority (CIAA) seized on July 13 all the documents prepared by the special committee formed under the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) charging the committee with irregularities and corruption. “The investigation is underway,” said Ishwari Prashad Poudel, spokesperson at the CIAA. “We can’t exactly say when our investigation will be over.”

However, the committee denied misappropriation of funds, stating that an international company was authorised to manage the entire Rs. 2.5 billion budget allocated for the purpose.

“The bidding process was underway when the CIAA demanded all the documents charging us with financial irregularities,” said Khagendra Nepal, a special committee member.

“The charge is baseless and we expect the CIAA to release all the dossier as soon as possible so that the bidding process can be furthered.”

Earlier, the committee had postponed the first date of bidding set for June 23 by a month. “Many important questions regarding the quality, distribution and the existing trend of the new system were raised in a pre-bidders’ meeting held before June 23,” said Nepal. “We postponed the process to revise all the documents and address the questions raised in the meeting.”

“This time, all the documents were ready and we were about to announce the bidding, but graft slur halted the process,” he added.

The introduction of the digital recordkeeping system is expected to help curb fake licence issuance as well as track down the stolen vehicles. “In addition to recordkeeping, it will facilitate the police to curb crime,” stated DSP Bibhuti Raj Pandey of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.

However, while the future of the new system seems uncertain amid recent controversies, special committee chief Balchi Dhar Ghimire has resigned from the post.

“He resigned simply because of his bad health,” stated Nepal.

Whether the people would benefit from the new system hinges crucially on the early resolution of the controversy surrounding it.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- August 7