NOC chief goes ‘underground’

NOC chief goes ‘underground’
eKantipur, 16-Aug-08
Kantipur Report

In an ironic twist, which comes as a mockery of the country's governance, the managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has gone 'underground' after the Supplies Minister, his own patron minister, threatened to kidnap him.

"Digambar Jha is presently out of contact and has hidden himself at a place unknown to us after Minister Shyam Sundar Gupta bursting into his office Wednesday threatened to kidnap him if he did not give new licenses to operate to dealers and gas companies," said an official requesting anonymity.

Interestingly, Jha has gone into hiding at the suggestion of Home Ministry officials, whose doors he had knocked for security. "With the wrongdoer being the Minister himself, Home minister officials say they are helpless," said the official.

The 'shameful' episode unfolded after the corporation management turned down the minister's order to grant five petroleum retailing dealership licenses to four applicants.

They were Modern Crystal Hardware (Chabahil), East-West Hardware Enterprise (in Thimi and Shaktikhor, Chitwan), Mandevi Petrol Center (in Thapathali) and Shiva Pujan Oil Store (in Rupandehi).

Likewise, the minister through personal order had directed the corporation chief to issue import licenses to two liquefied petroleum gas companies based in Sunsari and Dhading.

"The orders were issued two months ago. However, given the fuel crisis and financial problems, Jha held the view that the decision should come after normalcy was restored at the corporation," said the source.

However, as the minister continued the pressure, Jha called a Board meeting to deal with the case. The board headed by the Supplies Secretary himself supported Jha's stand though. It agreed in principle to the proposal to open new petrol pumps and gas companies, but allowed the corporation management to decide on issuing licenses after fulfilling all required procedures.

None of the names the Minister gave had prepared infrastructure or shown expression of interest at NOC. "The whole process was just opposite of what the corporation follows for issuing licenses," said the source.