PM DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN SISTER-IN-LAW’S APPOINTMENT Kathmandu, 18 Dec.: Prime Minister Dr. Babauram Bhattrai has said that he was ready to face punishment if any evidence of his involvement, financial or exerting pressure, was found in the selection of the Chairperson of the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), RSS reports.. Speaking in a news conference organized by the Ministry of Urban Development at Singhadurbar on Tuesday, Prime Minister Bhattarai who is also looking after the portfolio of that ministry said that he was stunned some media disseminated news about the appointment of the Chairman at KUKL tying his name without going into the reality. "Since I believe in good conduct, good governance and public accountability, I am conscious so that my official authority is not misused or abused. If it is proved that any pressure or financial enticement from my side or my family´s side was there in the appointment of KUKL chairman, I am ready to amend that," he said. The Prime Minister expressed regret that only news linking him with the appointment row at KUKL was given prominence by the media while not giving any news about the delay in holding the General Meeting of the KUKL which, according to him, was because of the participation of the private sector also in KUKL while following the concept of Public Private Partnership concept in course of taking the assistance from the Asian Development Bank. Prime Minister Bhattarai said that he always respected the responsibility of the media to warn the state bodies for improvement but felt very sad when an unverified topic was blown out of proportion. A press release issued by the Ministry in the news conference states that a meeting of the KUKL on December 7, 2012 dismissed Prayag Lal Joshi and unanimously appointed Prof. Timila Yami Thapa, former member of the Board of Directors of KUKL, to the post of chairman. Secretary at the Ministry Kishor Thapa said that the appointment of the chairman of the KUKL was done according to the KUKL Board Act, 2064. He denied any outside pressure in the appointment process. Spokesman at the Ministry, Suresh Pradhan said the environment was becoming conducive for holding the general meeting of the KUKL soon. nnnn