The announcement made by the Nepal Oil Corporation to raise the prices of petroleum products, especially cooking gas, kerosene and diesel, the other day has sparked off countrywide protests and opposition. Student organisations have reacted to the decision with anguish and indignation, halting transportation and vandalising public and private property in different parts of the country. The police cadres deployed in the streets to deter the protesters from indulging in violent and disruptive actions were ineffective in quelling the wrath of the agitating students. That the decision to hike POL prices has been made for the third time in as many months has been so ill-conceived and unconvincing that people poured on to the streets to oppose the cost escalation. It has really shocked the ordinary people, and their natural and spontaneous rejection is obvious and anticipated. The prices of the petroleum products have gone up by hefty percentages this time, which will push up the cost of other essential commodities, impacting negatively on the mundane needs of the people. The transport operators have already decided unilaterally to raise the fares of the buses and taxis by a sizeable percentage, which is going to break the back of the poor people. The rise in the transportation fares has its consequent ramifications in appreciating the prices of different commodities, including durable and non-durable consumables. Though the Nepal Oil Corporation has defended its decision to increase the prices, citing rises in the price of crude oil in the international market, unnecessary tinkering with the prices of petroleum products without giving any thought to its impact on the lives of the ordinary people is not a wise and prudent move. As disclosed by Minister of Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the hike in the prices of the petroleum products was executed by the corporation itself without letting the government know about it. Technically the corporation carries the mandate to take decisions regarding its operation and transaction without consulting the government, but any sensitive and consequential move of this kind should not come without the endorsement of the cabinet itself. It is, therefore, necessary to review the decision and find other viable options to ensure that the loss sustained by the corporation is compensated for without resorting to exorbitant hikes in the pricing. It is also necessary to restructure the corporation to check the pilferage and leakage of resources that affect its efficient and effective operation.

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