Business

Nearly 3 lakh litre fuel distributed in Valley on Friday

Nearly 3 lakh litre fuel distributed in Valley on Friday

By Rastriya Samachar Samiti

Private vehicles and cabs waiting for their turn to refill petrol at the Bhadrakali-based Ripumardini Petrol Pump, operated by the Nepal Army, as the nation reels under deepening fuel crisis, in Kathmandu on Friday, October 09, 2015. Photo: THT

KATHMANDU: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Friday distributed around 300,000 liters of fuel from different fuel stations of Kathmandu Valley. The 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 months. The points that have continued to operate are those in Kakadbhitta, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa and Dhangadhi. The tankers entering India from these trade points have also not been fully refilled 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 regularisation of the document pertaining to supply has been outstretched. Corporation Acting Executive Director Nagendra Shah said import of fuel products via the operating trade points has not been smooth either. The Indian side has been creating obstacles in name of security even after clearance at the customs checking, he lamented. The agitating parties in Tarai-Madhes are also obstructing the transportation of freights, gas bullets and fuel tankers that enter Nepal. The 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. Ambulances, VVIPs, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, government offices, hospitals and public vehicles are being given the priority over the rest during distribution of fuel.