KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has formally warned Kulman Ghising, the managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), for misbehavior and noncompliance with his performance agreement.
Within seven days, Ghising must provide a thorough response to the ministry's eight specific accusations. His termination from the position could occur if he is unable to offer a convincing justification.
Ghising is accused by the ministry of anomalies in transformer procurement, among other things. It asserts that his office disregarded grievances and neglected to provide thorough information on the problem.
Ghising has allegedly neglected the performance review procedure mandated by his appointment agreement on multiple occasions, according to the ministry. According to reports, this delay in submitting the required paperwork has made it more difficult for the ministry to evaluate his job impartially.
Disobedience to governmental orders is another charge. Ghising is alleged to have disregarded a technical committee established to resolve disagreements over electricity rates.
Ghising is accused of disturbing meetings and not maintaining the decorum required of his position, according to the notice, which also accuses him of acting impolitely during NEA board sessions.
The government claims that these moves have undermined the NEA's governance by making it extremely difficult to oversee and assess its operations.
Ghising's failure to comply, according to the ministry, is a violation of his performance agreement and may result in legal and administrative action under the Nepal Electricity Authority Act.
Ghising, who was reappointed as NEA chief in 2021, is widely acknowledged for having helped the authority achieve record-high income levels and for having ended Nepal's devastating power shortages. Despite his achievements, these charges have called into doubt his leadership.
The decision may have been politically driven, according to critics, given Ghising's high public profile and the public's strong support for his accomplishments in the energy sector.
"The issues raised in the notice need to be addressed immediately," the ministry added, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
In the event that Ghising does not provide a suitable response, the government is prepared to take further action, including dismissing him from his role as head of the NEA.
The claims and the government's subsequent notification have garnered significant political and popular attention. Many are closely monitoring the developments because the decision in this case is expected to have a big impact on the direction and leadership of Nepal's electrical industry going forward.
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