Ramechhap, January 15

Residents of Ramechhap are being overcharged by vehicle entrepreneurs.

According to locals, all sorts of vehicles, including those ferrying cargo, have taken to fleecing people citing the fuel crisis of late.

“Though it’s just half an hour’s drive, they are making us cough up to 300 rupees,” said Laxmi Tamang of Bethan VDC-4.

Except for Duragaun and Himganga, buses and Tata Sumos are plying almost regularly in all the villages of the district now. Among them, the locals have raised question over the random fares charged by Tata Sumos citing the fuel crisis.

Sumitra Tamang of Hiledevi VDC, who came to district headquarters Manthali lamented about having to pay 800 rupees for the one-way fare. “I asked him why he was charging exorbitantly but was rebuked for the query,” bemoaned Sumitra.

Law professional Saujanya Prasad Satyal expressed wonder at the nonchalance of the administration at the open cheating in the transportation sector. “While the administration is quiet, neither civil societies nor local political parties have taken any initiative to curb the situation, which has bolstered the morale of ‘swindlers’,” he said.

On his part, Chief District Officer Shesh Narayan Poudel admitted that he had received verbal complaints. “I’ve got verbal complaints about the fleecing.

I will do the needful to normalise the situation,” he vowed.