Expedite It

THE recent decision to take stern action against the misuse of public property is, indeed, a heartening news. The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently issued a public notice to all the outgoing ministers and officials to return the vehicles used by them and even warned that failure to abide by the notice would be subjected to legal action. So far more than 40 such vehicles have already been returned. It is the duty of officials and others who hold public position to return the government vehicles and other public properties soon after they are relieved from their post. And the law also requires all to return the public property used by them soon after they are out of the position. But hardly anyone abided by. As a result, the decision to force them to return the public vehicles. There are cases that some politicians and officials continue to use public property even years after they have been relieved from their posts. This is gross misuse of public property. Misuse of public property is a crime-subject to legal action. Hundreds of vehicles of different ministries, projects, corporations and public enterprises are, reportedly being misused by outgoing ministers and officials. Despite the knowledge of such misuse, authorities could not take legal actions against the misusers because they enjoyed political protection. Now, there is the determination to take stern action against such misuse of public property. Not only public vehicles, there are several other cases of misuse of public property. All those who misuse public property must be brought to book. The present action, no doubt, a commendable job, has obtained wide public support and appreciation. The need is now to expedite the process of taking action against those who misuse public property. One more thing the concerned authorities need to do is that they should also check the state of public vehicles when they are returned. There were cases in the past that some vehicles, which were returned, were in a bad condition. Thus, provision should also be made to ensure that users return the vehicles in good condition when they relinquish or are relieved of their posts.

Enforce The Rule

GOING by the convoys of long-route day or night buses departing from Kathmandu Valley, what can be surmised is that the yearly exodus of Nepalese has already started. For, come Bada Dasain all Nepalese working in various offices in the Kathmandu Valley but hailing from far-flung urban centres or rural areas are all prepared to head for their respective homes to celebrate Bada Dasain with their loved ones and relatives. From amongst such preparations, one is to secure their seats in the assorted long-route buses plying day or night from the Valley to their respective destinations. These long-route bus companies, to facilitate these Bada Dasain revelers, usually open their booking counters at least one month before this festival commences with all its accompanying religious observances. In addition to this, the long-route bus companies, to cater to the great rush among such revelers to be on time to mark this festival with their loved ones living outside the Valley, also add more buses plying their respective routes so that more seats would be available to them.

This is where the concerned authorities, more particularly the traffic cops, need to not only focus their attention but also to enforce the existing traffic rules and regulations. For, with the passing of each Bada Dasain, the pressure exerted by the revelers on the long-route bus companies to avail more seats has also increased. While the reason for this could be due to the yearly influx of Nepalese with permanent residence outside the Valley, what simply cannot be overlooked is that bus companies plying the long routes, like all business enterprises, are wary of incurring any loss. Purchasing new buses just to cater to the tremendous demand for more seats only during the Bada Dasain, while having to ply the same routes with more empty seats in other days, could push them into the red. The next obvious choice for some of these bus companies would be press into service buses of questionable durability and use. Since such buses would be overflowing with Dasain revelers, they could be the causes of accidents. Hence, for the safety of the Dasain revelers, the concerned authorities should ensure that the long-route bus companies are using only durable and serviceable buses. This is only possible until and unless the concerned authorities strictly enforce the rule that stipulates that all buses plying the long routes must durable and serviceable.