Dipayal, March 5

Long after blockade at major border entry points ended, fuel scarcity still persists in the far-western districts of the country.

“You would at least get half-filled cooking gas cylinders during the blockade but now you don’t even get that,” said Hotel Entrepreneurs Association chairperson Dipak Bahadur Khadka.

According to Keshav Bohara, a trader of Bheri Gas, no cooking gas cylinders have been supplied to the district in the past one month.

“Ever since the day when the blockade ended, almost no consignment of cooking gas has entered the district,” he said, while Radian Gas dealer Darmasingh Dhami also bemoaned low supply of cooking gas, saying, “We last received cooking gas cylinders around a week ago but not in enough quantity.”

It is said that the district has a demand for around 500 LPG cylinders per month.

The district has also reeling under shortage of petrol and diesel for long now. “Long after the blockade has ended, we still have to wait for the day when a tanker comes to refuel our vehicles. This is very unfortunate,” said Hari Bahadur Kathayat, a driver.

Nepal Oil Corporation, Dipayal branch that supplies fuel to Doti, Achham and Bajura admitted of fuel scarcity in the region. “There is fuel scarcity as the current supply is just 60 per cent of the total demand,” said Karna Prasad Jaishi, an official at the branch office.

Meanwhile, fuel scarcity has also affected development activities. Division Road Office Dipayal chief Sunilbabu Dhakal informed that majority of road projects had been halted due to lack of fuel.

On his part, Nepal Oil Corporation Regional Office spokesperson Nawaraj Bhandari said the situation was gradually improving. “The situation is not as bleak but it will take time for the scarcity to end,” he remarked.