Arguing that the government's allowing dual fuel prices in the market has hit the consumers hard and also negatively impacted country's economic and social harmony, PAC has written to the secretary of Ministry of Supplies (MoS) Bishnu Lamsal and questioned the logic behind such a decision. The committee has also asked supplies secretary to present the rationale and basis behind such a decision. PAC has also asked the supplies secretary to furnish documents related to the decision within three days.The PAC move came after Birat Petroleum, a controversial private firm, was allowed by the government to sell petrol at Rs 130 per liter when NOC has been selling the same for Rs 99 per liter across the country.
"NOC's selling petrol at cheaper rate and allowing another firm to sell it at higher rate is controversial and has caused confusion in the market," PAC secretary Som Bahadur Thapa told Republica, adding, "While there is confusion in the market and consumers are suffering, regulatory bodies have not done anything to stop this."
"We will investigate the issue seriously and take action if found guilty," added Thapa.
Recently, the government, for the second time, had allowed Birat Petroleum to sell petrol at much higher rate. A few months ago, when the fuel crisis was at its peak, the private firm was allowed to sell around 100 KL of petrol at Rs 190 per liter although the price of petrol in the domestic market was Rs 104 per liter. Repeating the same, the government, a couple of days ago allowed the private company to sell 132KL of petrol, it imported for the second time, at Rs 130 per liter. Birat has been overcharging consumers saying that the quality of its petrol is of better quality. Birat's petrol is being sold from three petrol pumps in the valley.
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