Vehicle owners better watch it. Those substituting cheaper kerosene for diesel to operate their vehicles may not get away with it for much longer. Subsidised kerosene costs a mere Rs 17 per litre, compared with diesel, which sells for Rs 26.50. Nepal Oil Corporation officials suspect the substitution may be accounting for about nine percent increase in demand for kerosene, and a corresponding 30 percent drop in diesel sales since last month. NOC says it has intensified its anti-adulteration checks. A night bus was recently caught in the act?tanking up with kerosene instead of diesel at a local gas station. Some refuelling stations in Kathmandu have been found doing the same. Transporters are aware that using kerosene could damage their engines?and pollute more than diesel does?but claim the money they save makes it worth the extra maintenance costs. The government pays Rs. 3 for every litre of kerosene NOC sells to the general public.