The board of directors of NOC had written a letter to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) on December 4, requesting the ministry to take needful action against Khadka after finding clarification furnished by him unsatisfactory. The board had asked the government to take action against Khadka as his appointment is of 'political nature'. However, the government has been dragging its feet on the issue.
“As the maximum punishment that the board can take is suspension, we have requested MoCS to dismiss him through a cabinet decision,” a board member of NOC said, requesting anonymity. “However, MoCS seems to be reluctant to dismiss Khadka.”
NOC board had sought clarification from Khadka on November 28 on his alleged involvement in black market of petroleum products, among other unlawful activities which has worsened fuel crisis.
“We had forwarded our recommendations to the ministry, hoping that the latter would take needful decision immediately. But it seems that the ministry officials are not serious about addressing the fuel crisis,” the board member added.
The board member even criticized senior ministry officials for making foreign trips at a time when the country is facing severe fuel crisis.
Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganesh Man Pun and Secretary Naindra Prasad Upadhaya along with some joint secretaries left for Kenya on Sunday to participate in the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference.
Another NOC board member said findings of NOC board might have failed to convince ministry officials. “We can do nothing if the government is not in a mood to take action against him,” the board member added.
Ministry officials, however, refused to comment on the issue, stating that the issue was being handled by the Minister and Secretary.
NOC Chief Khadka has been accused of taking different unlawful decisions in the name of improving availability of petroleum products. Among others, he had unlawfully awarded petroleum supply contracts to private firms. Moreover, he has also been accused of selling petroleum products to industries and business houses at higher price rates.
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