The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has responded to social media posts and news reports alleging inflation of land compensation estimates for the Kamle hydroelectric project. No stranger to investigating cases of inflated land compensation, the bureau has stressed that transparency, fairness, and due diligence must guide the assessment and disbursement of compensation.

Videos and photographs circulating online allegedly show the construction of houses intended to secure compensation benefits under the project. The circulation of such material has generated strong public reactions, with many social media users calling for a formal investigation into the allegations.

The ACB has issued an advisory for government officials, private individuals, and beneficiaries involved in the compensation process.

The advisory should serve as a warning, given how messy the Lada-Sarli compensation case has become. Officials should remember that, sooner or later, if there is large-scale misappropriation, the law is likely to catch up with those responsible.

On the other hand, an aware and vigilant public can go a long way in ensuring that there is little scope for misappropriation of funds or inflated claims. As seen in the state before, public scrutiny and accountability remain among the most effective safeguards against corruption and abuse of public resources, as opposed to govt agencies which often tend to ignore red flags.