The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has urged the government to withdraw the hike in tariffs on electric vehicle reminding ruling CPN of its election manifesto.
Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada hiked tariffs on electric vehicles in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. NC has been slamming the government for betraying the electorate after winning the election with promise to operate only electric vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley after three years in the manifesto.
"The government should withdraw the hike of around 113 percent in electric vehicles," NC lawmaker Devendra Raj Kandel said speaking at the start of House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Sunday. "This decision will not just raise import of fuels but is also regressive and destructive for environment."
Kandel read out the point in the CPN election manifesto about operation of just electric vehicles in the Valley within three years. He also reminded how Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli while inaugurating the electric bus operated by Sajha Yatayat two years back had declared that 20 percent of all vehicles will be electric ones by 2020. "This is dishonest politics for vote with no accountability toward the people."
He pointed that the country will lose in the long run due to the decision to raise tariffs on electric vehicles. He added that the country imported fuels worth Rs 215 billion in the past two years and said the country would cut trade deficit by Rs 10 billion if fuel import were reduced by just five percent.
Another NC lawmaker Gagan Thapa also reminded the ruling party of its manifesto and called the decision to hike tariff on electric vehicles fraudulent. "Should CPN not speak pointing that the decision is against the manifesto? Should the energy and health ministries not speak?" Thapa asked. "You have chosen to not speak. We will speak."
He stressed that the government cannot play with the health of commoners for self interest of finance minister. "Why play with our public health for petty interest of finance minister, and stop the steps taken for clean energy? You don't have that right. Let it be corrected and withdrawn."
