Commuters’ plight

As an ordinary commuter travelling to work every day, I am surprised that the private transport operators have not reduced the fares as directed by the government. This is surely taking law into their own hands. When the price of petrol or diesel goes up, the transporters are swift to increase the fares. Now, the prices of petroleum products are falling but they are refusing to lower the fares. This means that they are making undue profit at the cost of the burdened commuters. I also wonder why the ministry concerned is not doing something concrete to make the profiteers follow the directive. Let the government give the people the feeling that their welfare is uppermost in its mind by providing the needful relief as far as possible and by punishing those who disobey the rules.

Hari Simkhada,

Kathmandu

Not justified

Apropos of the news report “Consumers at crossroads over fuel pricing war” (THT, Dec 4), it is surprising that even as the price of petroleum products dropped by over 100 per cent in the international market, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) continues to enjoy its monopoly. A mere reduction of Rs 5 in the price of petro-products is justifiable by no accounts. We know that NOC owes billions of rupees to its creditors. Its inability to revise oil prices would have been understandable in view of its mounting debts. But once price adjustments have been made, we expect NOC to ensure us a steady oil supply. We also expect the government to direct transport entrepreneurs to cut transport fares accordingly.

Manit Deokota,

Sukkhedhara, Kathmandu

No security

This refers to the news brief “Acting LDO shot at” (THT, Dec 4). Lately, not only the common people but also government officers have been attacked by armed outfits in the Tarai. While

intimidation, extortion and murder have become common, law enforcement agencies have not been able to contain the criminal activities. Worse still, security personnel are

themselves learnt to have abetted criminals on several occasions. The attack on LDO is a stark example of the failure of the security apparatus to maintain law and order. If district officers can come under attack, it is not difficult to imagine the level of insecurity for the common people. Theefore, the government must take stringent measures to

control criminal activities. The state of impunity must come to an end, once and

for all.

Sukriti Sharma, Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu

Punish them

Though Home Minister Bamdev Gautam has earned quite a reputation for his recent drives to restrict the time during which dance bars can open and evict street vendors, he seems to have turned a blind eye to several fraudulent manpower agencies that continue to illegally export unwary labourers to foreign countries.

For lack of proper immigration documents, many of the workers have not only been subjected to torture and humiliation but have been mercilessly killed. I agree with the writer that the government must bring such unscrupulous manpower agents to book (“Fraudulent agencies”, THT, Dec 4).

Bibek Sharma, Mandikatar, Kathmandu