Govt clueless where solar lights meant for quake victims were distributed

KATHMANDU, June 23: More than 100,000 units of solar lights were imported into the country in the name of relief for earthquake victims. But the government has no idea where the solar lights, which enjoyed full duty-waiver, were distributed.

Various NGOs, INGOs and individuals, who had taken the responsibility to distribute solar lights to quake-hit people, have not furnished details of distribution to the government.

Related story

Tapping into the sun

 

"Existing provision requires NGOs, INGOs, groups or individuals, who brought relief material from foreign countries, to distribute them to quake-hit people in coordination with the respective District Administration Office (DAO). We, however, do not have any mechanism to check whether or not relief has been distributed," Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, spokesperson of Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), told Republica. "We will now find out it through concerned DAOs."

Though existing provision require importers to specify the place, where the relief material is to be distributed, to enjoy duty waiver, most of the importers have not furnished such details. As per the provision, organizations importing relief material will have to pay customs duty if they failed to furnish certificate, which confirms distribution of relief material in the specified place, issued by the concerned DAO.

"If importing organizations, NGOs or INGOs fail to submit such certificate, we will recover customs duty from them," Sishir Kumar Dhungana, director general of Department of Customs, told Republica.

Kenya based D Light Kenya alone has sent 16,750 solar lights in the name of Nepal Freight Forwarder Association (NFFA) and World Vision International. "We have distributed all those lights in Dhading, Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The details about where exactly they were distributed are yet to come," Rajendra Sangraula of NFFA said.

Jagadish Bhattarai of World Vision International told Republica that they distributed the lights in Gorkha, Lamjung, Sindhupalchowk and Kathmandu.

Altogether 25,583 units of solar lights from India, 660 units of solar recharge light from Canada, and 962 kg solar charger lights and 732 solar lights from Hong Kong have been imported to Nepal in the name of earthquake relief.

Likewise, Ireland based Concern Ireland has sent 10,000 lights to Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) to distribute them among earthquake victims. RRN has mentioned that the lights will be distributed in Ramechhap, Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts.

Likewise, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand have sent 10,000 units, 24 units, 330 units, 1660 units and 489 units of solar lights, respectively.