A parliamentary committee has initiated an investigation into the reported cases of corruption in various developments projects of Province 2.

The high-level parliamentary committee was formed on September 15 under Speaker Saroj Yadav following a widespread complaint that the government employees demanded a huge amount of money as commission to issue the last instalment of around 2,000 development projects in the province. Six different teams of the committee reached the project sites and started probe into the matter.

The provincial ministries of physical infrastructure and development; social development and industry, forest, tourism and environment have not released the final instalment of 2,000 projects that were implemented through consumers’ committee in eight districts in Province 2.

The consumers’ committees and provincial assembly lawmakers claimed that the government employees demanded up to 30 percent of the projects’ total budget as commission to release the final tranche.

The committee that comprises two lawmakers of four major political parties decided to carry out a field visit as it found negligence on the part of respective ministries and the employees in regards to their roles.

“The probe has been delayed as it took a long time to bring the files of those projects. We have initiated field inspection from Sunday,” said Upendra Mahato, a lawmaker who is also a member of the parliamentary committee.

During the provincial assembly meeting held on September 8, the lawmakers of both the ruling and opposition parties raised the issue in Parliament stating that the government employees demanded 10 to 30 percent commission from the development project.