KATHMANDU: The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA-Nepal) Development Board has clarified that any moveable and immovable property acquired by it would remain under the Government of Nepal (GoN) and not the donor body Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
The government established MCA-Nepal Development Board on April 18, 2018, in accordance with the Development Board Act, 2013, and the Board lies under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Nepal. It was formed as an accountable entity to coordinate and implement projects under the MCC Compact with the USA.
Issuing a press statement, MCA-Nepal Development Board drew its attention to some media reports in connection with the land acquired for the construction of a power sub-station at Ratmate in Belkotgadhi Municipality-7 of Nuwakot.
“The land acquisition of 398 ropanis required for Ratamate power sub-station is done as per the Land Acquisition Act, 1977, with the investment of the GoN and grant assistance of MCC,” the statement read. “Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) would also utilize the land to build another substation in the future,” it added.
The MCA-Nepal Development Board stated that it acquired 195 plots of land belonging to 102 households after compensating landowners for the land and structures built on those lands in accordance with the existing laws of Nepal and international environmental guidelines and standards.
The MCA-Nepal Development Board, as Nepal government’s authoritative body, is overseeing the construction of the substation in Nuwakot.
“As per the authority given by the Development Board Act, 2013, all the movable and immovable property required for the project is purchased by the MCA-Nepal Development Board, and those assets are registered only in the name of MCA-Nepal. We would also like to inform all concerned that any movable or immovable property purchased under MCC grant will not remain in the name of the donor body MCC.”
It added that the MCC Compact did not allow the transfer of ownership of the property to the donor body.
The acquired land is currently in the name of the MCA-Nepal Development Board under the MoF, GoN. After the MCA-Nepal Development Board will be scrapped, all property acquired under it would be handed over to the government body, such as NEA or any other body as per the Nepal government’s decision.
The statement urged the public not to rely on misleading news regarding the board and referred to the board’s official website for accurate and up-to-date information.
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