KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka has defended the decision to give zero marks to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kulman Ghising in his performance evaluation, citing his failure to submit the required documents on time.
Speaking at a session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Minister Khadka clarified that Ghising was penalized because he did not submit his self-evaluation report on time.
“The ministry sent him a request, and only after that did he give himself a score and submit the evaluation,” said Khadka.
Khadka also alleged that Ghising had failed to comply with government regulations, emphasizing that “no one is above the law.” While acknowledging his initial enthusiasm about Ghising’s leadership, the minister said his review of NEA operations revealed significant weaknesses.
Among the concerns raised, Khadka accused the NEA of overstating profits by including uncollected arrears, failing to submit details of 25+ organizations despite repeated ministry decisions and signing a power purchase agreement with India without completing due process.
Minister Khadka further downplayed Ghising’s role in ending Nepal’s electricity crisis, stating that the elimination of load shedding was not solely due to NEA’s management but also due to electricity imports from India and increased domestic power generation.
Ghising, widely credited for ending chronic power outages in Nepal, has not yet publicly responded to these allegations. However, the controversy surrounding his performance evaluation has sparked debate over political interference in the energy sector and the future of NEA leadership.
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