Kathmandu: Frequent foreign junkets of Kathmandu Metropolitan City officials is likely to cost development this year. Metropolis officials seem to be travel maniac as the actual foreign trip expenditure is likely to outnumber the budget allocated for abroad visits. The budget graph shows KMC officials could spend some Rs 600,000 alone on travelling abroad this year. Travel junkie officials are so busy with their tour packages that three foreign visits have already been finalised between April 22-May 25.

A KMC official, requesting anonymity, said all the visits led by the KMC chief himself is sure to affect a number of development projects for want of budget. KMC Executive Chief Kedar Bahadur Adhikari is all set to go to Philippines on April 22 on a five-day tour. Seven other officials will accompany him. Right after his return, Adhikari has planned another “secret” visit to Israel for eight days from May 4-12. “His third visit for the US from May 18-25 has also been approved by the Ministry of Local Development,” said the official. All expenses of Adhikari and another MoLD officer Dhan Bahadur Rayamajhi will be from KMC’s pocket.
Meanwhile, Adhikari has recommended two KMC staffs and an outsider for a visit on their own expenses to the US. Among them are Sanath Kumar Thapa, KMC staff deployed at Rastriya Sabha Griha, and his spouse. Ganga Dhar Gautam, who is also visiting Philippines along with Adhikari, has been included in the team. “It is almost impossible for a government employee to spend Rs 400,000 on a foreign visit,” said the source “The staffs have been financed by some private contractors.” He said the total costs for the three visits would cross Rs 2.5 million.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, April 16, 2012