Outrage in Nepal over decision to buy 20 million LED bulbs from India

KATHMANDU: Kathmandu’s decision to procure 20 million LED bulbs from New Delhi has led to outrage in Nepal, with media claiming the Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” government is buying sub-standard bulbs at rates above the market price.

The government, in a recent Cabinet decision, gave its nod to a proposal forwarded by the energy ministry for the purchase of the bulbs from Energy Efficiency Services Limited, a joint venture of public sector undertakings of the Indian power ministry, at a cost of Nepalese rupees 2 billion.

The move will save energy consumption in the country by an estimated 200 MW.

The decision, taken just days ahead of local elections in the Himalayan country, has come under heavy criticism. Media reports suggested financial irregularities, irregularities in the procurement process and questioned why the bulbs were bought for Nepalese rupees 65 per unit — almost twice the price in India.

Energy minister Janardan Sharma and Kul Man Ghising, the managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) — authorised to procure the bulbs from India — held separate press conferences on Tuesday. Both rejected the accusations of financial irregularities.

“I will leave the country if someone proves that I received money from the deal for LED bulbs,” Ghising said. “Allowing load-shedding for a couple of hours would have sufficed if I indeed wanted money.”

Meanwhile, Sharma termed the accusations “false” and “baseless”, saying that the process to buy the bulbs would be initiated after an agreement between governments of both