BIRATNAGAR: Minister for Supplies Shiva Kumar Mandal said that the government has stayed alert in the smooth supply of essential commodities during the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals.

Speaking in a press meet organised by Press Centre Morang branch here on Tuesday, he made it clear that the government would be tough against those found involved in black marketing, creating artificial shortage and selling goods at exorbitant price.

The minister underlined the need of a separate legislation providing powers to the ministry to take action against black marketeers and unscrupulous businessmen who cheat customers, citing the present legislation did not give that power to the ministry but to another body.

Responding to mediapersons' query on the sacking of Nepal Oil Corporation Managing Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka on the charge of his involvement in the irregularities in the land purchase deal of the corporation, Minister Mandal said the action was taken against Khadka as the clarifications he furnished to the parliamentary Public Account Committee, Finance Committee among others were not found to be satisfactory.

He said the process of constructing the petroleum storage depots of the NOC in all the seven provinces would be forwarded only after taking the approval from the Election Commission as the election code of conduct has already come into effect.

The government is preparing to construct petroleum storage depots in all the seven provinces.

Minister Mandal also shared that Biratnagar was appropriate to be made the capital of Province 1 from the geographical and administrative point of view but said works were not moving ahead accordingly.

He hinted at the possibility of contesting in the upcoming parliamentary election from Morang constituency-1.