Tourism Minister Kiranti and CAAN Director General Adhikari bury the hatchet

Published On: July 12, 2023 01:30 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, July 12: The conflict between Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Sudan Kiranti and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Director General Pradip Adhikari has ended.

The dispute came to the surface after Minister Kiranti published a letter on Facebook, seeking a nine-point clarification from Director General Adhikari.

But CAAN’s top official snubbed the clarification asked by Minister Kiranti in public. Then Minister Kiranti asked for a second clarification. An official of the ministry said that after the intervention of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the dispute between the two was resolved. "The dispute between the two people was on a personal level," said the officer, "It has been reconciled after the intervention of the Prime Minister."

Sources claim that the reply to the Minister's second clarification was sent by the Director General after the agreement in principle to work together. The minister raised questions about the performance and working style of the Director General and accused him of failing to discharge his duties and responsibilities. Minister Kiranti accused the officials of delaying the implementation of the budget and programs passed by the Federal Parliament for the fiscal year 2022/23.

Similarly, Minister Kirati had accused Director General Adhikari of failing to fulfill his duties and responsibilities, citing the air crash in Pokhara and the loss of life and property, which raised serious questions about Nepal's air safety.

In a statement issued by Director General Adhikari, Minister Kiranti was accused of creating a conflict of interest in the field of civil aviation.

Sources claim that discussions were held between Tourism Minister Kiranti and DG Adhikari after the Prime Minister's instructions. An official of the ministry said that both of them have agreed to work together without accusing each other on a personal level.

Meanwhile, it is not seen that the bill to separate civil aviation from service providers and regulatory functions can be presented even in the current session of parliament. Although Minister Kirati is in favor of introducing the Bill, the Director General is against it. Although the bill has reached the Cabinet, it has not been taken forward.