Yadav complains non-cooperation from Finance and Home Ministry
Forest and Soil Conservation Minister Matrika Yadav has complained that non-cooperation from Finance and Home Ministries were obstructing in its efforts to curb sandalwood smuggling.
Speaking at the Natural Resource Committee of the legislative-parliament, on Thursday, Yadav accused that police administration and revenue office did not take necessary action when his ministry had recently informed them about four containers carrying sandalwood headed towards China.
"Monitoring team of our ministry traveled to Tatopani from Kathmandu to request them to nab the containers carrying red sandalwood. Although we had coordinated with Finance and Home Ministry in Kathmandu, the police and revenue officials claimed they cannot do so at night due to insecurity. Overnight the sandalwood were smuggled into China," Yadav is quoted by Nepal Samacharpatra daily as telling at the Committee.
Yadav expressed commitment to curb the smuggling if the Home Ministry provided his ministry with police unit and the Finance Ministry agreed to finance the monitoring teams.
At the same meeting, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat conceded that smuggling was on the rise and was hurting the collection of revenue. He said that due to Maoist insurgency in the past and Terai unrest at present, security posts and revenue offices were located only at major points. When Dr. Mahat said smugglers of the sandalwood could pose threat to those who try to curb the illicit trade, other MPs raised objection against his remarks saying the state should become stronger. nepalnews.com sd Apr 20 07
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