"NTB has mobilized Rs 930 million in revenue till mid-March. Only around 12 percent of the amount has been spent so far," Ramesh Kumar Adhikari, chief administrator of NTB, said. "NTB targets to collect Rs 1.1 billion in the current fiscal year."Adhikari said the development budget is unlikely to be spent this year even though NTB is organizing series of event in the remaining months of the fiscal year.
NTB has been without a CEO for last three and half years. Its daily activities were affected for almost two months, starting April last year, due to protest against anomalies in NTB by Joint Tourism Coordination Committee (JTCC).
Adhikari is one of the members of a five-member sub-committee that the executive committee of NTB formed to oversee day to day operations of the national tourism organizations after majority of its senior employees were suspended on corruption charge. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed corruption case against 23 officials, including 10 employees of NTB, confirming their involvement in embezzlement of Rs 346.91 million.
The meeting of NTB executive committee held on April 13 has authorized the sub-committee to carry out day to day activities in NTB. The sub-committee formally started its work from Thursday.
"Now that we have begun our works, our main priority will be to promote Nepal in the international market and ensure smooth operation of NTB," Rajendra Sapkota, coordinator of the sub-committee, said.
NTB REGULATIONS TO BE AMENDED
The 216th executive committee meeting of NTB held on April 13 has formed a three-member Regulation Amendment Suggestions Sub-Committee to make amendment to NTB Regulations for removing legal hurdles for appointment of CEO.
"As per the existing regulation, a three-member committee comprising of board members representing the private sector has to be formed to select new CEO. As some posts of board members representing private sector are inactive at present, the sub-committee has been formed to expedite the process of appointing new CEO," Umakanta Parajuli, member of the Daily Activities Operation Sub-Committee, of NTB said.
The regulation amendment sub-committee has been formed under the co-ordination of Sadhu Ram Sapkota, joint secretary of Ministry of culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Parajuli and Ghanendra Shrestha, a board member representing private sector, are the other members of the committee.
The committee has been given 15 days to suggest amendments to the regulations so that new CEO can be appointed as soon as possible.
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