Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah has taken concrete steps for good governance to end the excessive exploitation of the limited resources of the state for years and administrative irregularities.

KATHMANDU — The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has started the process of taking back vehicles from the employees and officials who have been availing the facilities of government vehicles on the basis of violation of the existing law.

So far, the Office has taken back 622 government vehicles from various ministries, bodies under them and constitutional commissions. A preliminary investigation carried out by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat had revealed that even the government officials of the lower level were extensively using government vehicles despite the legal provision that only the officials of the first class or above gazetted would be entitled to the facility of government vehicles.

During the investigation, details of the vehicles used by the employees and officials of all government bodies were sought. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on April 23, 2083 issued a circular to all ministries, bodies under them and constitutional commissions, directing them to immediately return all vehicles being used by government employees and officials who are not required to provide vehicles as per the prevailing law. Based on this directive, the vehicles being used against the law have been returned.

In the coming days, no employee or official will be allowed to use government vehicles alone except as stipulated by law. However, employees and officials of all levels will be allowed to use government vehicles en masse in special work or uncomfortable situations.

A detailed study is also being carried out to find out how much financial burden has been imposed on the government due to the use of government vehicles against the law. The government has taken this step to reduce the expenditure in the name of fuel, maintenance and facilities in view of the rising price of petroleum products in the international market and the economic condition of the country. This campaign of the government to maintain administrative discipline by cutting unnecessary expenditure on the state coffers will add a new dimension in the direction of good governance.