Fuel shortage
The Himalayan Times
6 January 2012
The serpentine queues of motorbikes and vehicles in-front of the petrol pumps have been the normal but frustrating sites to see. The consumers have to wait for hours and hours to get partial filled fuel tank. The acute shortage of petroleum products in the country especially within the Kathmandu valley has hit the mobility of its denizens. Regular traffic volume has reduced to more than fifty percent during the last four days.
Likewise, the shortage of cooking gas has also troubled the housewives. The common people have been found to be paying more than the normal price for a cylinder LPG. However, it is not easily available. Who is responsible for smooth supply of these petroleum products that fall under the essential service? Is it the government, NOC or the Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association (NPDA) or all of them?
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It was not uncommon to see the shortage of petroleum products in Nepal in the past also due to shortsightedness of the government. None of the past governments seemed to be interested in engaging private organizations to deal with the petroleum products because of the involvement of huge amount of commission money. NOC is one of the most corrupt state owned corporations in Nepal. And every political party in power does make a lot of money out of NOC.
In this regard, the rights activists deserve appreciation for knocking the Supreme Court (SC) door for the gross negligence of the government, NOC and NPDA in the supply and distribution of petroleum products. In response, the SC has issued its orders to the concerned for smooth supply of fuels as reported in “Step on gas to ensure fuel supply, SC tells govt.” (THT, Jan4, Page 1). However, the question of “who is going to control these irregularities” remains unanswered until the political parties in power show their commitment to correct this corrupt practice.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
