CIAA directs to maintain transparency in fuel supplies, NHRC concerned over black marketeering
Kathmandu / January 20: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has directed the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to maintain transparency in the supplies of petroleum products.
The CIAA summoned Commerce Secretary Bishnu Prasad Lamsal, NOC Executive Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka and NOC Thankot Depot Chief Jagannath Ghimire and instructed them to take all standard measures to clear off hurdles seen in the fuel supplies.
The CIAA had on Tuesday dispatched a letter to the Ministry and NOC, calling for the presence of its representatives for discussions regarding alleged irregularities reported in the fuel supply.
Though NOC depots across the country have the stock of over 22 million liters of fuel, the supply is short. Besides, there is smooth fuel supply into the country via Nepal-India border points except Birgunj-Raxual of late.
Similarly, the CIAA directed the authorities concerned to address irregularities reported in the distribution of cooking gas too and ensure its proportional supply and make the supplies system accessible to consumers.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) has drawn the attention of the government to discomforts facing the people due to smuggling and black marketeering taking place in most parts of the country owing to the ongoing agitation in the Tarai and obstructions on regular supplies through the border points.
In a press statement Wednesday, the national human rights monitoring body said flourishing smuggling and black market has put people’s rights to daily livelihood to a severe crisis. Through the statement, the NHRC has called on the government to adopt effective measures to check such illegal practices at the earliest and thereby ensure and promote consumers’ rights.
The NHRC has expressed its serious concerns over the haphazard and illegal storage of smuggled petroleum products and its possible consequences. RSS