Banke, March 30:

Minister for Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato said today that preparations were underway to address food shortage in remote hilly districts in the far-western region.

Talking to mediapersons at Nepalgunj, Mahato said the government was making preparations as the far-western hills were suffering from persistent food crisis over the years.

“Food shortage is being felt because the Finance ministry is not releasing the budget to reinstate depots of Nepal Food Corporation closed during the insurgency,” Mahato said. He also said the ministry supported the Nepal Oil Corporation’s decision to replace petroleum tankers which are more than 20 years old. “The government will strictly implement the decision,” he said, adding, “There should not be any hindrance in the supply of essential goods like petroleum products.”

He also said he wanted new tankers to ferry petroleum products, as the demand for petroleum products has increased by nearly 50 per cent in recent years.

Mahato also said the ministry was making preparation to provide a Rs 10 a litre subsidy in diesel to manufacturing industries and farmers.