Khatiwada writes note of dissent on IPB decision

Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada has expressed serious objection over the practice of bypassing Industrial Promotion Board (IPB) by Minister for Industry Anil Kumar Jha.
Dr Khatiwada has written note of dissent on the decision to license new liquor companies taken by 198th meeting of the IPB held about a month ago.
“I can´t agree with the decisions that have been taken by the IPB," Khatiwada, who is also the member of the board, has written at the bottom of the meeting minutes file. “There should be clarity on the provisions."
Khatiwada has further said that IPB can´t endorse everything that the ministry does. "It should be clear whether the IPB is to endorse everything that the ministry does or it has power to say no to each step that the ministry takes," Khatiwada has written in his note of dissent.
The government had lifted 12-year long ban on issuing licenses for liquor factories a couple of months ago. But after issuing licenses to some factories, MoI had stopped licensing processing, stating that it needs to review the policy.
Sources at the Ministry of Industry (MoI) and Department of Industry (DoI) have revealed that the Minister Jha is involved in some wrongdoings while issuing licenses to new factories.
Minister Jha couldn´t be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts of Republica.
According to officials close to the development, Minister Jha has violated the rules of rectifying decisions by the IPB meeting. “The IPB, which is supposed to endorse the decisions before they are implemented, has just started getting information about the ministry´s decisions,” a source said.
Another source said Minsiter Jha put a ban on licensing process after a handful of companies got the licenses.
The government, in October 2001, had decided to stop issuing new licenses to the new liquor factories in the country following pressure from the then CPN (Maoist). Ironically, the ban was lifted by the government headed by UCPN (Maoist) a couple of months ago.
According to Nepal Liquor Manufacturers´ Association (NELMA), the country imports liquors worth Rs 4 billion annually. Domestic companies produce liquors worth around Rs 11 billion a year.