VEHICLES REURNED BY FORMER KINGA HEADACHE FOR GOVT.

VEHICLES RETURNED BY FORMER KING HOT PATATO FOR GOVT.
;CAN’T MANAGE THEM
Kathmandu, 4 Jan.: The Home Ministry is facing hard times to manage the vehicles returned by the former King, Gyanendra Shah, RSS reports..

The difficulty cropped up as there was no one to ride it, said Home Secretary Sushil Jung Rana. Former King Shah had already returned the Mercedes vehicle he had used, to the Ministry.

At a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Labour, Secretary Rana said there is a problem in its management and keeping it idle for long has deteriorated its condition.

Rana also said the Ministry had recently repaired a tube of the vehicle's tire by spending Rs. 22,000. More than Rs. 150,000 has been already spent for repair so far.

On one hand, there is difficulty in managing vehicles for high-ranking officials, and on the other, there is difficulty in managing what we already have, he said.

He also informed that only one vehicle from VIPs is yet to be returned after the SC decision, recently.One of the two provided to former prime minister the late Krishna Prasad Bhattarai is yet to be returned.Cabinet Secretary Leelamani Poudel said there is difference in the number of vehicles in ministries.
nnnn

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ASKS GOVT. TO PRESENT PLAN TO BOOST AGRO PRODUCTION
Kathmandu, 4 Jan.: Natural Resources and Means Committee (NRMC) of the Legislature-Parliament has directed the government to present a joint action plan within 15 days to boost agricultural productivity, RSS reports.

The meeting of the Committee which was held on Wednesday to discuss regarding the removal of Agro Service Tariff (AST) with India directed the Ministries of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Finance and Commerce and Supplies for the same.

The Committee held discussions with concerned ministries saying Nepali production could not compete with India after removing AST.

On the occasion, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture said that alternative has to be searched for as Nepali farmers will be hit hard after removing AST.

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta said there is no need to worry about it as Nepali products could also be exported to India.

Minister Bhatta stressed on discouraging inflow of date-expired goods from India by formulating 'Anti Dumping' law.

Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri claimed that the agreement made with India will help Nepal's food security and end smuggling.

But domestic production could be discouraged and Nepal could be a dumping site of the date-expired goods of India, Chhetri added.

Secretary at the Agriculture Ministry, Nathu Chaudhary said that domestic production could not compete with Indian products as there is no grant assistance in agriculture sector in the country compared to India.

Chaudhary further said there is a possibility of increasing grant assistance in agriculture sector and could be arranged fees other than the agro reform tariff.

Commerce Secretary Purushottam Ojha claimed the AST had to be removed from next year under the mandatory provision of WTO.

Joint Secretary of the Finance Ministry Shanta Raj Subedi said although it was negative for Nepali products, it was a WTO compulsion.

A meeting in New Delhi last month had removed the 15 percent tariff on agro which was generating revenue of Rs. 750 million annually.
Nnnn

REGULAR GAS SUPPLY DEMANDED
Kathmandu, 4 Jan.: Federation of Nepalese Gas Dealers' took out a rally in the Capital on wednesday, demanding the smooth supply of gas, RSS reports.

The rally started from Tinkune went through different parts of the town ---New Baneshwor, Maitighar, Tripureshwor, New Road and ended after it reached Ratnapark.

Inaugurating the rally, former Chairman of the Federation Gyaneshwor Aryal expressed his confidence that the rally would be able to give pressure to the government for making easy supply of gas.

The government should immediately initiate to end the gas shortage as the gas shortage has hit hard all consumers, he said.

It is informed that the country has the demand of 15,000 metric tons of gas across the country but at present, only 5,000 metric tons of it is being supplied.

Meanwhile, Nepal Gas Dealers' Association, Jhapa, also took out a motorcycle rally with empty gas cylinders demanding smooth supply of gas, improvement in dealers' system, and sufficient commission to gas traders.

The rally passed through different corners of Damak and submitted memorandum to the Chief District Officer Gehanath Bhandari putting various demands.

On the occasion, Chairman of Gas Dealers' Association, Jhapa, Indra Pathak warned of stern protests if their demands were ignored.
nnnn