40 thousand vehicles that were using fuel subsidy illegally have been removed from the system – Ministry of Planning and Development AMN- November 19/2016 40 thousand vehicles that were using fuel subsidy for improper purposes have been removed from the subsidy system and made to pay their debts, Minister of Planning and Development Dr. Perkh Asefa said. The minister said this while reviewing the performance of the government for the first quarter of 2016. The participants of the review appreciated the government's implementation of many activities that ensure public benefits, including fuel subsidies. However, they criticized that “the subsidy benefited the rich and not the poor community”. How does the government know the depth of the problem? He also asked what action he had taken. In the response given by the Minister of Planning and Development Dr. He pointed out that when the government introduced the subsidy system, it aimed to make the poorer sections of the society benefit from public transport. He explained that since the system was implemented, 23 billion Birr has been given to the bodies engaged in mass transportation through the subsidy. The minister mentioned that the other purpose of the targeted fuel subsidy system is for the public to get better transport services at affordable rates. However, they stated that there was a problem with the performance. He said that there were vehicles that were using the targeted fuel subsidies for public transport for their personal gain and were using them illegally. Thus, in the action taken based on suggestions and valid evidence; He stated that 40 thousand vehicles that were using the subsidy for unintended purposes have been removed from the subsidy system. Furthermore, they explained that the subsidy money that the government had been giving them to work for the benefit of the public was made to be paid back in the form of debt. ESA reported that Dr. Parkhut added that a strict monitoring action has been taken against those who smuggle and smuggle fuel into the country. In order to permanently solve the problem, he stated that a digital system has been prepared to control the entire chain of fuel from the port of origin to the consumer through technology.
