Speaking at the meeting of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament on Thursday in the presence of Secretary Sapkota, Khadka termed Sapkota's remark as 'irresponsible'" "We took the decision after Department of Supplies (DoS) instructed us, in written, to take needful decision on petrol imported by Bira"," Khadka said, adding" "NOC management has the authority to take decision. It is not necessary that we take each and every issue to the boar".Khadka became aggressive after Secretary Sapkota criticized NOC management for not consulting its board while allowing Birat to sell petrol at higher price.
Speaking ahead of Khadka, Sapkota had said that NOC management arbitrarily gave 'go-ahead' to Birat to sell petrol at Rs 130 per liter without informing the board" "The NOC management took the decision on March 6 and informed us on March 10, citing public holida"," Sapkota said, adding" "We intervened into the issue as soon as NOC formally informed us about its decisio"."
Khadka, however, said no one can escape by putting blame on NOC alone.
Both Khadka and Sapkota put blame on a notice published in Nepal Gazette which allowed private companies to import and sell petroleum products, without specifying the pricing procedure.
Meanwhile, lawmakers accused NOC management, concerned ministries and the cabinet for involving in policy corruption. They said that the black-market of petroleum products thrived after the government published notice in the Nepal Gazette, allow private companies to import fuel without mentioning anything about the pricing mechanism."
"The government must answer why it allowed private firms to import fuel before putting in place pricing mechanism and setting quality standar"s," lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada sai". "Conservative estimates show Birat made profit of more than Rs 190 million by selling petrol at Rs 130 per lit"r."
Khatiwada also urged PAC to carry detailed investigation on the issue and take needful action against government officials as well as others involved in the policy corruption.
Lawmakers like Dhan Raj Gurung, Dipak Khadka and Sarbendra Nath Sukla said NOC, Ministry of Supplies, Department of Supply and private companies were encouraging policy corruptio". "PAC should probe the issue and take stern action against wrong-doe"s," they said. They also said that all those involved in allowing Birat to sell petrol at higher rate must be brought to book.
At the end of the meeting, PAC Chairman Janardan Sharma directed concerned government bodies not to allow any firm to sell fuel at higher price.
Related story
NOC begins petrol imports from India via pipeline
