Kathmandu, May 2

The Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Welfare today asked the government to shut down fuel stations across Kathmandu Valley that have not complied with legal standards.

The panel’s recommendation has come at a time when Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is planning to distribute licence to set up new fuel stations.

Citing that failure of fuel stations (petrol pumps) in maintaining safety standards properly has posed a security threat to Valley dwellers, lawmakers at the committee’s meeting today said that the government should immediately initiate measures to either standardise them or halt their operations.

“The Valley has become a risk zone due to haphazard establishment and operation of fuel stations,” said Kishan Shrestha, a lawmaker, adding that the government should ensure that fuel stations in the Valley are maintaining proper safety and security standards.

Moreover, Shrestha urged the government to shift a few fuel stations that are posing a threat to Valley dwellers outside Chakrapath.

The government had earlier planned to shift a majority of fuel stations outside Ring Road. However, the government has not been able to act on its plan. The committee meeting also directed the government to clarify on why petrol pumps could not be shifted to outside Chakrapath.

Citing that reports regarding a majority of fuel stations violating safety standards are coming into light, lawmakers at the meeting said that the government, especially NOC, should be responsible for any incidents in the Valley, which are caused due to low safety standard at fuel stations.

Another lawmaker Bhimsen Das Pradhan, said that lack of monitoring and intervention of the government to standardise fuel stations is suspicious. “We have allowed construction of fuel stations in front of headquarters of security forces in the Valley. Is it good from safety and security perspective?” Pradhan questioned.

Similarly, lawmaker Devendra Poudel, said that the government has been taking decisions in favour of industrialists while compromising on the safety and security issues and public aspirations.