Lift exorbitant tariffs, curb unbridled corruption: Lawmakers

Published On: August 20, 2018 03:10 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Federal Parliament building (Republica file photo)

KATHMANDU, Aug 20: Lawmakers have drawn the government’s attention toward the issues related to embezzlement taking place at every state organs and heavy taxation being imposed on every icome of the citizens.

Speaking at a parliament meeting in New Baneshwar on Monday, Nepali Congress lawmaker Pushpa Bhusal lashed out at the government for imposing exorbitant taxation saying that it has marred mostly the poor people. “Imposing up to 25 percent task on the salary of a government employee is not reasonable,” said she.

She has also criticized the government for not bringing any programs for the poor to encourage them to invest their hard-earned capital in the income-generating sector.

She pointed out a situation where a student has to still pay Rs 50 for using a suspension bridge to merely reach her school.

Speaking at the Parliament, NCP lawmaker Narayan Khatiwada said monsoon floods occurred recently (August 18) have damaged a bridge in Nuwakot, leaving the locals in jeopardy. He also called on the government to renovate old and ramshackle palaces and other historical facilities in the district.

Nepal Peasants and Workers Party (NPWP) lawmaker Prem Suwal said that Sikta irrigation canal has been destroyed before the water reached the paddy fields of the farmers. He stated that irrigation minister should be held accountable and answer the questions raised by lawmakers regarding this in the parliament. Suwal also called for an investigation into the media reports regarding the embezzlement of billions of rupees in the purchase of purchase of two wide-bodied airbuses by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

“Rs 2.4 to 6 billion rupees was embezzled while purchasing two wide-bodied airbuses by the CAAN, according to media reports,” said Suwal.

Similarly, NCP lawmaker and former Minister for Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sher Bahadur Tamang raised the corruption as a burning issue in the country and urged the government to immediately take steps toward curbing it.