Who is to blame?

This is in reference to the news report “Smooth fuel supply a far cry” (THT, Feb. 12). Though the chairman of the Petroleum Dealers Association claimed that the key to the petroleum crisis is not the problem of financing the import but one of resolving the Tarai crisis, there appears to be more to it than meets the eye. Or else, how would the government explain the shortage of other commodities of daily consumption? On the other hand, when the Chinese government has expressed its willingness to supply petroleum products to meet the Valley’s needs through pipelines, what has been stopping the government from proceeding swiftly in that direction? That leaves enough room to doubt the intent of the political leaders and the present government.

Suman Basnyat, Arubari

Foul play

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat has played foul by introducing the scheme of selling Nepal Telecom shares to the highest bidders. The scheme offers the corrupt a golden opportunity to invest their black money in the shares. It is worth remembering that Dr Mahat had earlier had a big role in devising and implementing the scheme of privatisation of

government-owned enterprises as well as that of voluntary disclosure of income that facilitated the corrupt to launder their money. The CIAA should keep an eye on the legality of the money invested.

Ramesh Bahadur Shrestha, via e-mail

Out of work

This refers to the news report “KMC looking for a place to run night market” (THT, Feb. 12). KMC, acting on the request of the locals, shut down the night market citing violation of the terms of the contract. Though KMC has decided to allocate another spot for the night market who had been running their stalls at the Basantapur Durbar Square area have been rendered out of work. For those who had been earning their livelihood from the shops that they ran in the area, the decision taken by the KMC is absolutely unfair. Instead, the authorities should have allowed them to run shops that sold handicrafts, curios and other artefacts.

Manit Deokota, Ratopul, Kathmandu

Dogs

Though there are several NGOs working for the management and control of street dogs in the capital, the progress they have made on the front is hardly perceptible. Street dogs

succumbing to death due to starvation and lack of care is a regular sight in the streets of Kathmandu. Even the metropolitan authorities have been turning a blind eye to the problem.

Unhealthy street dogs, if allowed to roam freely, might create health hazards for the public. The metropolitan authorities should stop the menace of stray dogs.

Ankita Upadhyay,

via e-mail

Sub-standard

It is surprising that even departmental stores in the capital are involved in selling sub-standard products. When people go to departmental stores and are ready to pay more, they don’t expect the products to be second-rate. This is largely because there is no strict

legal provision to safeguard consumer rights in the country. Those who sell

substandard products should be punished.

Aashika Pokharel,

Biratnagar