Kathmandu, September 30:

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato today said there would be no scarcity of cooking gas and sugar during the festive season. He added India had issued permit for sugar export from Raxaul.

“Once 40,000 metric tonnes of sugar arrive, there will be no scarcity,” said the minister. He also said only 10 per cent duty would be levied on its import compared to the earlier 25.

Mahato said Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) was importing and supplying LPG more than the demand quantum daily and urged all concerned not to hoard it.

Responding to concerns raised by Jyoti Baniya, General Secretary of Consumer Rights Forum, Nepal, that LPG was being smuggled to the Chinese border town of Khasa and that diesel vehicles were converting their engines so as to use LPG, Mahato said strict measures would be taken against the guilty.

Mahato said the government had released Rs 1 billion to NOC and that the Indian government had instructed Indian Oil Corporation to tolerate the earlier agreed-upon credit up to IRs 1.5 billion.

He also said the government would issue IDs to needy people to provide them subsidised products including kerosene, cooking gas and other essential commodities.

“Once the IDs have been issued and the people start get subsidised commodities, the price of petroleum products will be adjusted at par with those in the international market. This adjustment will forever end the supply crunch,” said Mahato.