Lawmakers for forming parliamentary probe team

black-market in fuel, essential commodities

KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Lawmakers have urged the government to form a high-level parliamentary probe committee to investigate black-marketing of essential goods and other anomalies in the market.

Saying that many top bureaucrats are involved in black-marketing of essential commodities, they said probe team led by a bureaucrat cannot investigate the anomalies in an independent manner.

The government formed a five-member committee under Jib Raj Koirala, joint secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, last week to investigate the involvement of bureaucrats in black-marketing of fuel and other essential goods. "

"Though the commerce minister has said that the committee has the authority to investigate and take action against senior bureaucrats and even minister, a committee led by a joint secretary cannot independently investigate wrongdoings of his/her senio"s," lawmaker Subash Chandra Thakuri said at the meeting of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Welfare Committee of legislature-parliament on Tuesda". "We should form a parliamentary probe to look into irregularities committed by senior bureaucra"s."

Stating that commission game has ruined Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), he suggested dismissing the board of NOC and nominating competent board members.

Similarly, other lawmakers said NOC Managing Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka should give all details of deals signed with Birat Petroleum and Petrolimex Nepal to the committee. They said NOC should adopt reliable distribution system to improve fuel availability in the market. The lawmakers also asked NOC top brass what is hindering the plan to import petroleum products from China.

Speaking at the meeting, Jyoti Baniya, president of Forum for Protection of Consumers' Rights, blamed the government for black-marketing of essential commodities. He also said people might resort to robbery and vandalism if the situation prolonged further.

Similarly, former chief secretary Leela Mani Poudyal suggested to the government to introduce

online system for distribution of fuel. He also suggested forming a rapid response team to address people's concern". "The first and the foremost thing that the government should do is make people believe that government is doing its best to control market anomalies and improve increase suppli"s," Poudyal said, addin", "Along with telephone hotline service, the government should also use social media to receive complaints and suggestions from peop"e."

Meanwhile, Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganesh Man Pun said that government was doing best to distribute essential goods in an effective manner. Pun also informed that the ministry was developing a mobile application to provide updates on supply of petroleum products and other essential goods.

Stating that the government has 1,355 kiloliters of petrol and 2,004 kiloliters of diesel in stock for Kathmandu Valley, NOC Managing Director Gopal Khadka said that they were committed to distribute petroleum products in a fair manner. Commenting on queries regarding his involvement in black-marketing of petroleum products, Khadka sai": "Mistakes are bound to happen. Our priority should be on increasing supply of petroleum produc"s."