Nepal Television’s Satellite Bandwidth Purchase Marred by Irregularities

Nepal Television’s (NTV) purchase of satellite bandwidth has been found to be marred by irregularities, procedural weaknesses, and financial indiscipline, resulting in significant financial losses to the institution.

A report submitted by an investigation committee to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on Friday revealed that the purchase process was plagued by a lack of transparency and competition, with the institution entering into agreements without following proper procedures.

Irregularities and Financial Losses

The report found that NTV had entered into agreements with foreign satellite bandwidth providers without following the Public Procurement Act and Regulations, resulting in financial losses of around Rs 20.61 million.

The committee also found that the institution had paid for services before they were even launched, and that the cost estimates were inflated, resulting in unnecessary financial burdens.

Questionable Decisions

The report questioned the decisions made by NTV’s management, including the extension of agreements without proper evaluation and the purchase of additional bandwidth without proper justification.

The committee also found that the institution had not followed proper procedures in the payment of taxes and other revenue obligations, resulting in a lack of transparency and accountability.

Recommendations

The report recommended that the government take necessary action against those responsible for the irregularities and financial losses, and that NTV’s management be held accountable for their decisions.

The committee also recommended that the institution review its procurement processes and ensure that they are transparent and competitive.

NTV has been broadcasting its channels via foreign satellite bandwidth providers since 2002, and has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability in its procurement processes.