Pokhara, May 12:

Pokhara, the headquarters of the western development region, and adjoining districts have been facing a severe shortage of petroleum products after supply dwindled to nearly 50 per cent of the demand.

Petroleum dealers said the shortage was always there for the last few months, it became acute since last week.

Suraj Shah, the manager of NOC’s sales depot at Gagangauda, said the NOC reduced supply after India cut short the supply following NOC’s failure to pay its outstanding dues to the Indian Oil Corporation.

He said 130,000 litres of petroleum products are supplied daily (except on holidays) to adjoining districts of Pokhara, but the supply was far below the demand. Besides, panic-buying is also intensifying the problem, he added.

The Petroleum Dealers’ Association, Gandaki-Dhaulagiri branch, said the districts adjoining Kaski have a daily demand of 84,000 litres of petrol, 48,000 litres of diesel and 48,000 liters of kerosene.

President of the branch Navin Baral said the supply had gone down to half of the demand. He demanded the government to take initiatives to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products in the market.

All petrol pumps in Pokhara have been displaying “No Petrol” signs

for the last two days. Transport entrepreneurs said only few vehicles are plying on the roads.

Baral said the fuel shortage began in Nepal after the government politicised the petroleum sector and asked the government to form a separate petroleum board at the NOC.