Industry Minister Alleges Collusion Between Staff and Businessmen

Kathmandu. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari has made a serious allegation that the ministry's employees are operating in collusion with industrialists and businessmen, preventing her from working. Speaking at a meeting of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Interest Committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Minister Kumari claimed that the bureaucracy only works in the interest of industrialists. She stated that she faced non-cooperation from employees when she tried to bring about reforms in the industrial sector, making her the target of everyone's attention. Minister Kumari said that the bills and laws drafted by the ministry are prepared in consultation and collusion with industrialists by the employees. She complained that employees directly refuse when she tries to change rules and laws made in the interest of industrialists. 'When asked to change this law, the employees say it's not possible and won't work,' she said, 'They say it's not possible more than ten times, what can I do?' She complained that even with the current strong government, employees are not allowing work to be done. Accusing the employees who passed the Public Service Commission of having their minds in the wrong direction, she claimed that the country will not develop until the bureaucracy improves. Stating that there are more gas industries operating in Nepal than necessary, Minister Kumari clarified that 58 gas industries are not needed. She alleged that even in large countries there are no more than three gas industries, but in Nepal, licenses have been distributed to 58 by taking crores of rupees. 'If you ask us honestly, two gas industries are enough, all others should be scrapped,' she said, 'Even when I joined hands and asked them to ease gas supply, nothing worked.' She asserted that the industrialists are focused on recovering the crores of rupees paid when obtaining the license, and political parties have to bear the blame for it. Minister Kumari concluded that there is no environment for establishing domestic industries in Nepal. She pointed out the immediate need for a review of the customs policy on the import of raw materials and finished goods. She explained that Nepali industries cannot compete because foreign finished goods are imported at low prices, while raw materials for domestic production are expensive. She asserted that problems like gas supply will not be resolved until industrialists are removed from policy-making processes and various committees, and laws are made with national interest at the center.