KATHMANDU, July 17: A committee formed to investigate the procurement of satellite bandwidth by Nepal Television (Public Service Broadcasting Nepal) has submitted its report to the government, revealing irregularities amounting to more than Rs 206 million.
The report, submitted to Minister for Information and Communication Dr Bikram Timilsina on Friday, found serious irregularities, including unlawful procurement and contracting of satellite bandwidth on different occasions, procedural weaknesses, violations of financial discipline, and significant financial losses to the institution.
Acting on reports from the Office of the Auditor General, matters of public concern, and complaints from various agencies regarding the procurement of satellite bandwidth, the Ministry of Communications formed the probe committee on June 5, 2026.
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According to the report submitted to the ministry on Friday, procurement processes carried out at different times violated the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Public Procurement Regulations, 2007, resulting in financial losses to Nepal Television.
The report estimates that the irregularities caused losses of approximately Rs 206.17 million.
It states that competitive bidding procedures were not followed during the procurement of satellite bandwidth and that contract periods were extended at the existing rates without proper competition.
"Payments were made even before the services began, and after the services commenced, bills for higher amounts were also paid. Cost estimates were unreasonably inflated, resulting in the purchase of more bandwidth than required," the report states.
The committee further reported that, in 2012, a technically disqualified bidder was awarded the contract for the satellite bandwidth service.
Similarly, it noted that when the satellite in use was nearing the end of its design life, an agreement was signed with the same service provider to purchase an additional 10 MHz of bandwidth.
The report also found that, during the payment process for satellite bandwidth, tax and other revenue obligations that should have been deposited into the government's revenue account were not fully complied with.
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