KATHMANDU: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Friday distributed around 300,000 liters of fuel from different fuel stations in the Kathmandu valley. NOC distributed 241,000 liters of diesel and 45,000 liters of petrol as only 30 per cent of the trade points for importing fuel are open on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, 70 per cent of the trade points have continued to remain shut for more than one and half a month. The trade points that have continued to operate are those in Kankadbhitta, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa and Dhangadi.
The tankers entering India from these trade points have also not been fully loaded by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Although the blockade is not official and remains undeclared, the transportation of fuel has been rendered unnecessarily difficult while the time consumed in regularization of the document pertaining to supply has been outstretched.
Corporation Acting Executive Director Nagendra Shah said import of fuel product from the operating trade points has not been smooth. The Indian side has been creating obstacles in name of security even after clearance at the customs checking.
The agitating side in Tarai-Madhes is also obstructing the transportation of the freights, gasoline bullets and fuel tankers that enter Nepal. The gas bullets and fuel products that enter Nepal despite the obstructions are consumed in those areas while the rest is sent to the capital and other places. NOC Acting Executive Director Shah has urged one and all to sparingly distribute the fuel products.
The fuel products that are in stock and which are being supplied are being distributed in the valley on a daily basis. The ambulance service, VVIPs, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, government service, hospitals and public vehicles are being given precedence over the rest during distribution of fuel.