Posted by: chanaa_tarkaari June 19, 2007
Melamchi, ADB and Hisila Yemi
Login in to Rate this Post:     0       ?        
I thought we were talking about a ruined expert in executive post and her extra-ordinary swift of policy and strategy. But the issue is widened to other sector as well. Pire, I donot defend whether ADB's favor to ST is right or not. But in a corporate practice an organization always tries to defend other organizations who are supposed to work for it. For example, Apple tries to defend Intel as long as Intel keeps working for Apple. If Apple stops defending Intel in disputes, then it means these two companies are not gonna work together. So, I don't make the issue of ADB's love to ST a big deal. In addition to that, ST was a lone-bidder, and perhaps ADB was prepared to work with them. A sudden change in policy of Nepal's government will take them some time and effort to gain the momentum of their work spirit, which are understood cases. Yes, we have right to question if ADB country director have had some vested interest with the ST, but as it is seen that the ST walked out from the scuffle without making any cry, such an interest is unlikely to exist. On the other hand, Yemi has right to cancel terms with ST but its her duty to convince other stakeholders at first. We should not forget that the task flow should progress on a set program. The decision for ST was taken much ahead than Yemi to hold the position. She can't say मलाइ मन परेन, at any point of the time nullifying past efforts otherwise, there is a risk of changing decisions everywhile a minister changes, which disrupts the consistency in the policy leading the entire program into an obvious failure. Such a risk is not accepted by funding agencies and investors. You understand well why a comunist autocratic China and Vietnam are more successful to attract investors than democratic India and Bangladesh. Its because the investors want stable and consistent policy to minimize their risk rather than political choir and democracy. In fact, the melamchi case is also a litmus-test for maoists, in which, I consider, they failed. Not only the break in the consistency of the policy, Yemi also ignored ADB's first hand warning that was humiliating a major donor catalyst the ADB. Note that ADB is just a loan provider but the significant part is other donation (in fact the soft loan, that is supposed to turn into donation later on) coming from institutions like JIBC which Nepal surely loses in several of other parallel and follow up projects (as claimed by Dr. Mahat). This shows a total abscence of managerial skill with this so-called educated minister to deal the situation. The result, we see - absence of confidence and functional policy. (will write about energy and hydropower later on)
Read Full Discussion Thread for this article