Kathmandu, March 11
The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has urged the Ministry of Supplies to clarify within three days why it allowed Birat Petroleum to sell petrol at a rate higher than Nepal Oil Corporation’s.
It wrote to the ministry, demanding to know why it allowed Birat to sell petrol at a higher rate. Birat’s petrol will cost a buyer Rs 31 more/litre than the petrol that NOC supplies through fuel stations.
The committee told the ministry to write to it within three days, explaining the bases, rationale and the objective behind the decision to let Birat sell petrol at a higher rate. In its communication, the panel pointed that the decision to allow Birat to sell petrol at a higher rate has hit consumers hard. It said the decision, which comes at a time when oil supply situation is easing, has raised some serious questions.
NOC makes Rs 17 while selling petrol for Rs 99/litre. Birat is selling petrol for Rs 130/litre, earning a whopping Rs 48 in every litre of petrol sold.
Birat is selling petrol through Mali oil store in Kalimati, Gaurigaun-based Valley Rikesh Suppliers and Tripureshwor-based Jayanti Oil.
