Not true to the salt, STC selling unhygienic salt

July 31, 2007
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In yet another example of why state run corporations are slowly on the wane, it has been found that Salt Trading Corporation (STC) Nepal, the partially state-run corporation that enjoys full monopoly over the salt market in the country, has been selling highly unhygienic salt to the general public, raising serious health concerns for its loyal consumers.

An investigation has finally revealed that the quality of the “Ayo Noon” or packed iodized salt sent to the markets of 22 hilly districts of the country as part of the “Goiter Disease Eradication Project” has been found to be of extremely low grade and unfit for consumption.

A detailed chemical examination at the laboratory of the STC itself has found “inedible substances” in the salt, reports say quoting sources. The Ministry of Health and Population has also raised objection on the quality of the salt.

From November last year STC has imported salt worth Rs 500 million from India, of which more than half, according to STC sources, has been found to be unsuitable for human consumption.

Even though Parameshowar Mahaseth, former Chief Executive Officer of the corporation had issued a circular to its regional offices to stop any selling or distribution of the unhygienic salt, but flouting the order selling and distribution of the salt is continuing unabated.

The source also revealed that the decision to import this unhygienic salt and consequent selling and distribution against the circular was made by the corporation’s Finance and Commerce Committee headed by Rajendra Man Sherchan, a member of STC’s management committee,

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato said the government would carry out a thorough investigation into this scam.

CEO Mahaseth had handed over the authority of taking important decisions in the corporation to the 6-member sub-committee of the STC two years ago.

The corporation has long been planning to enter into international trade by opening its branch offices in a number of cities of India and China. The corporation is also said to be eyeing the Gulf region to develop it as a major trading area for exporting agriculture products there.