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Kathmandu Tuesday March 06, 2001 Falgun 23, 2057.
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Shameful mess
The Ministry of Population and Environment’s (MOPE)
delay in carrying out regular emission tests on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) run-vehicles
is just one example of the government’s administration system, bogged down in
bureaucratic bungling and red tape. A few years back, the government waived ninety-nine
per cent customs duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on the import of LPG-run vehicles. But
this irresponsible and unplanned decision is fast turning into a fiasco. Hundreds of such
vehicles have flooded the Kathmandu valley, creating an acute shortage of LPG, which is
likely to spark off an unprecedented crisis, given the existing demand and supply
situation.
Despite environmentalists’ hue and cry over the need for
testing the cooking-gas-run vehicles, the ministry has failed to deliver. The lacklustre
performance of the ministry has raised a number of questions. Why did it allow the
cooking-gas-run vehicles to run on the streets without testing its quality? Who
recommended it and why? More often than not, commissions and committees are set up to
carry out pollution studies, but surprisingly their findings and recommendations are not
made public. Lack of adequate information is likely to create chaos and confusion, sooner
or later. Like in everything else, accountability in pollution control is crucial and,
therefore, imperative. Moreover, unplanned, incoherent and fickle policies have crippled
efforts at reducing pollution in the Valley. Without assessing the market situation and
the tax holiday’s far-reaching impact and without carrying out a comprehensive study,
the government launched a defective plan to reduce air pollution. Whimsical trial and
error is something the general public simply cannot afford. Moreover, the frequent changes
of policy, and the ensuing bandhs and protest programmes have compelled commuters to
suffer immensely. Only a few weeks back, the government reversed its decision to ban all
vehicles, 20 years old or more, confining this ban to public transportation alone. The
switch in policy has left enough room for suspicion. There is no guarantee that private
vehicles are maintained well. Then why is it so partial to private vehicles? Do we have a
regular and reliable mechanism for testing vehicles- private and public?
More than anything else, the government’s failure to
provide regular and adequate supply of LPG gas is indeed shameful. If it cannot supply the
basic requirements, how can we expect it to fulfil other "bigger" promises? At a
time when good governance is the much-hyped mantra, the failure to supply an essential
commodity such as fuel comes as a severe blow to the government. Charting out ambitious
plans without developing broad visions and conducting thorough scientific study will not
resolve the pressing environmental problems in the Valley. Rather, such an approach is
likely to plunge society into anarchy, as in the case of LPG. Lastly, the government must
conduct emission tests for vehicles promptly, raise customs duty on the import of gas-run
vehicles immediately, ensuring the smooth supply of cooking gas.
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