Kathmandu. The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, an umbrella body of transport entrepreneurs, has suggested the government to raise one rupee per liter of petroleum and one rupee per unit on electricity charging charges, to make the accident relief fund stronger.

Presenting separate memorandums to Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, the FNCCI suggested raising additional fees for setting up an accident relief fund for immediate rescue, treatment and compensation to the victims of road accidents, which is in the process of being amended.

Federation general secretary Deknath Gautam said that the Federation has suggested the government to increase one rupee per liter in petrol and diesel in private and public vehicles across the country and one rupee additional in every unit of electricity consumed by electric vehicles.

He said that a proposal has been submitted to deposit one percent of the third-party insurance premium collected by the insurance companies in the fund and the federal, provincial and local governments will deposit a lump sum amount annually.

General Secretary Gautam expressed his confidence that the fund would help provide relief to the victims and manage the medical expenses as the insurance amount alone is not enough for the immediate rescue and treatment of the injured following the accident.

If the owner of the vehicle is unable to provide compensation to the seriously injured person who is not entitled to any accident or the owner of the vehicle is unable to provide compensation, the fund shall be spent from the same fund. The Federation has also urged the bodies concerned to include their suggestions in Chapter 10 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 2083.