17-23 May 2013 #656

The discipliner

Interview with the newly appointed auditor general Bhanu Prasad Acharya, Himal Khabarpatrika, 12 May

What are your priorities?

Ensuring accountability and transparency in the mobilisation of public resources is a top priority so that the administration can function more smoothly.

There is a lot of unaccounted expenditure, how will you tackle this problem?

The prolonged transition period along with unstable politics and interference from trade unions have led to an increase in unaccounted expenditure. As an auditor general I will take strong action to maintain fiscal discipline and bring the country’s unruly financial system under control. While there are strong laws to tackle these discrepancies, action hasn’t been taken against the guilty. Although it doesn’t fall under my jurisdiction to bring them to book, I will make sure that I remind concerned authorities to implement the law.

Can you take action against those who use unauthorised expenditure as a means for corruption?

It is important to thoroughly investigate corruption cases and I will make sure that authorities take action against those who are involved in unauthorised expenditure.

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