KATHMANDU: PM Madhav Kumar Nepal today left for Copenhagen, Denmark — the venue for the United Nations Climate Change Conference — leading a 43-member jumbo team. Altogether, 80 Nepali delegates are taking part in the global summit since a 40-member team already reached the Danish capital earlier last week. The PM is accompanied by his wife Gayatri, some ministers, lawmakers and three advisors — foreign affairs advisor Rajan Bhattarai, chief political advisor Raghuji Panta and press advisor Bishnu Rijal — a few officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), chief secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire and security personnel. Interacting with mediapersons at the Tribhuwan International Airport ahead of his departure, the PM said that he would raise the concerns of the impact of climate change on the Himalayas and other parts of the nation. The PM will address the conference on Wednesday. However, he has been allotted only three minutes to highlight his nation’s plight. He will get to interact with Indian PM Dr Man Mohan Singh and other world leaders on the sidelines of the meet. MoFA officials maintained that the jumbo team was a “sheer misuse of tax payers’ money” since the nation has been allocated only six seats at the summit, which is taking place at Bella Convention Centre.
“The strength of the delegation should not have exceeded more than 20,” he said. A PM’s aide, however, claimed that the government would not pick up the tab for all the delegates. “The government will only foot the bills for the PM and his wife. While, DFID, WWF and other international development organisations will bear the other delegates’ expenses,” he explained. Simon Lucas, climate change advisor, DFID-Nepal, said that his organisation had funded the trip for 38 members. “Though we’re yet to calculate the total expenditure, we’re likely to spend $1, 30,000. Besides we paid for so many delegates since we wanted Nepal to make a good impression,” he said. The ministers, lawmakers and government officials are in the eye of the storm for taking part in the meet at international bodies’ expense.
“It’s unethical on their part,” said a MoFA official. “It was unnecessary to include three advisors to the PM, chief secretary, several ministers and lawmakers,” he added. In fact, Nepali delegates outnumber that from neighbouring India and China. While, India has sent 34 delegates, China allowed only 38.
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