The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has set up a hotline for registering complaints against black marketeeing. The government has urged the public to report any black marketing activity at 01-4200052 stating that it will take action against the wrong doers.

Minister for Commerce and Supplies, Ganesh Man Pun on Friday informed that a committee under joint secretary Jeevraj Koirala has been formed to probe the black marketing and irregularities regarding the distribution of petroleum products and LP gas.

Likewise, experts and former administrators have expressed their concern over the booming black marketing of fuel in the country ever since India imposed trade embargo on Nepal some two months ago.

They have also drawn attention of the government towards curbing the aberration surfaced in the trade of fuel following the embargo which has disrupted the smooth supply of petroleum products and providing a breeding ground for the illegal import of the same.

It is learnt that peddlers have been dealing in the illegally imported fuel in various places in the capital city, including Kalanki, New Bus Park, Koteshwar, Balkhu and Satdobato areas for Rs 200-400 per litre.

Most of the vehicles in Bagmati, Gandaki and Dhawalagiri zones are believed to be operating on the fuel illegally imported from Thori in Chitwan.

The black marketing of fuel is believed to have flourished after the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned petroleum monopoly, issued a notice on October 19 which permitted anyone could import the fuel.

Peddlers are learnt to be importing fuel from the bordering Indian towns in bus, tanker and motorcycles on the basis of the NOC permit letter. Add to that, they have been selling it for an arbitrary price.

Same goes with the LPG gas cylinders. The market has seen its acute shortage but one can get it for Rs 6000 per cylinder in the black at various places across the city.

Former administrators and experts bemoan the apathy of the Department of Commerce and Supply Management, government body responsible to regulate small business enterprises.

Former Chief Secretary Leelamani Poudel commented, "I fear that the country's weak economy would be in the clutch of mafia and smugglers."

Poudel shared that he met with the Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganeshman Pun and pressed for market monitoring and the exercising transparent distribution system to combat black marketing to which Minister Pun pledged that none will be spared if found involved in irregularities.

Minister Pun informed Poudel that the Ministry was taking stock of situation through various stakeholders and former administrators.

The former Chief Secretary claimed that the peddlers were overly selling a new cylinder for Rs 6,000 and petrol for Rs 200 to Rs 400.

Similarly, Consumer Forum General Secretary Jyoti Baniya expressed his grief over the booming black marketing of fuel. "It is a matter of sorrow that the news of NOC staffers selling petrol to dealers charging Rs 10 more per litre was public."

He demanded a stern action against the peddlers who are on prowl at the time when the supply of such essential products are slashed significantly following the trade embargo.

NOC Deputy Executive Officer Sushil Bhattarai refuted the accusation of irregularities in its business. Bhattarai assured that those dealers involved in its black marketing would be brought to book in case of irregularities.

He also appealed to the consumers to tip off the NOC Information Centre if they find any incident of black marketing.

The government on Thursday declared to form a Committee to probe black marketing of petroleum products and other essential goods in the market.