By Chitra Mijar
Sindhupalchowk, Mar. 17: Sher Bahadur Tamang, a member of the House of Representatives for CPN-UML from Sindhupalchowk, has been using a Toyota Hilux (Ba 1 Jha 8768) of Melamchi Drinking Water Project (MDWP) without authorization for a year.

Tamang has been using the vehicle through his influence and the MDWP has been paying the money for its fuel and repair as well.
Spokesperson for the MDWP Rajendra Prasad Panta confirmed that the project received bills of fuel and repairs from Tamang. Bills totaling around Rs. 765,000 have been sent to the MDWP from Tamang. “The vehicle was provided to the Land Commission. I don’t know how lawmaker Tamang started using it. It is being investigated,” said Panta.

Tamang has employed a personal driver to operate the Hilux and reach places he desires.
Meanwhile, an official at the MDWP informed that Tamang requested the vehicle for some days but didn’t return it.

“The vehicle was given to the Land Commission. Lawmaker Tamang asked to use it for some days but he never returned it,” said Shambhu Pokharel, chief at MDWP’s commodity unit.
Tamang owns a vehicle and has parked it properly as he uses the MDWP’s Hilux.

When The Rising Nepal tried reaching out to Tamang on his phone, he didn’t receive the calls.
Similarly, it is not only Tamang who has been using vehicles of MDWP. Dozens of vehicles are being misused by major leaders of different political parties for years.