GANDAKI PROVINCE LAWMAKER ALleges RS 350 MILLION SPENT ON GARLANDS AND BOUQUETS

Pokhara. A lawmaker from Gandaki has accused the provincial government of spending nearly Rs 350 million on garlands and bouquets. Speaking during the zero hour of the Provincial Assembly meeting, lawmaker Damyanti Ruchal said that the government has spent 350 million on purchasing garlands. 'More than 350 million of citizens' taxes are being misused annually on purchasing garlands alone in state bodies. If we add garlands and tokens of appreciation, it is understood that billions of rupees are being misused,' she said, 'If tokens of appreciation must be given, let there be a provision to give the constitution, legal collections, and famous books by authors from Gandaki Province.' Her suggestion is to be creative in distributing tokens of appreciation. 'Giving books reduces expenses. I draw the government's attention to invest the money saved in this way in skill development, entrepreneurship, and production sectors,' she said.

During the zero hour, lawmaker Mahesh Bhattarai questioned why the Nepal Oil Corporation has not adjusted prices even though the price of crude oil has decreased in the international market. 'It is very unfortunate that even when fuel prices decrease in the international market, Nepali consumers still have to buy at the old expensive rates,' he said, 'The tendency to increase prices overnight when the market rises and to not decrease them by making various excuses when it falls is causing hardship to the Nepali people.' Many projects have not been contracted due to the increase in fuel prices. He had raised this issue before as well. 'I strongly demand that fuel prices be reduced and adjusted to international market prices,' he said.