|
|
Kerosene smuggling hits Terai dists By Our Correspondent SARLAHI, Feb. 19: Life in the Terai districts has been hit hard as smuggling of kerosene to India from Nepal continues unabated. A litre of the fuel costs Rs. 8 more in India than in Nepal after the Indian government hiked its price recently.Consumers in Sarlahi district in central south Nepal blame dealers of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) that has a monopoly on petroleum products for illegally supplying kerosene to India through businessmen. "There is no kerosene in the market here as the dealers are smuggling it to India," said Ajay Chaudhari, a consumer at Malangwa, the district headquarters. Another consumer Rambabu Thapa said he was able to buy two litres of kerosene after queuing for hours. "But some persons were seen taking 10-20 litres." Thapa said that the scarcity of kerosene is a matter of concern for all. Prakash Thapa of Lalbandi says that all the 31 petrol pumps are involved in making hay while the sun shines. But the dealers of NOC say the problem has arisen as the Corporation has not been supplying kerosene as per the quota. Atmaram Agrawal of Bishal Oil Corporation said that NOC supplies only a small amount of kerosene, and each customer is sold only two litres. But Rajesh Agrawal of Bansal Oil Pump said that Indians were also queuing in line to buy the subsidized kerosene. "How are to know who is a Nepali and who is an Indian?" he questioned. NOC officials, however, claim that no one has been allowed to take kerosene to India knowingly. The dealers say if the NOC were to provide kerosene according to the quota of 60,000 litres a month, there would be no shortage. Several dealers complain that they have to bear the brunt of accusations of the customers while they must grease the palms of NOC officials besides facing hassles from administrative officials. One such dealer, on condition of anonymity, said that the customers only see their faults, but we have to bear the brunt from all sides. Chief District Officer Ratna Raj Pandey said that the district administration will leave no stone unturned to take stern action against anyone involved in profiting from selling kerosene. Other Stories |
|Headline| |Economy| |Editorial| |Features| |Sports| |Letter| |Past|
| Send your comments and letters to the editor at gtrn@mos.com.np 2003 © Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. P.O. Box 876, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, NEPAL. Tel : 977 1 220 773, 243566, Fax: 977 1 225 407. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without prior permission. No part of the articles which appear in the internet version on THE RISING NEPAL may be reproduced without the permission of Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. For reprinting rights, please write to US. Send us your feedback: CONTACT US ABOUT US HOME ADVERTISE WITH US TOP |
