Kathmandu, October 1

A meeting of secretaries led by Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi has instructed the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Finance to submit a proposal on easing the supply of petroleum products before the Dashain festival for the next three months.

Concerned ministries have been asked to submit a proposal ‘at the earliest’ based on cost, quality and sustainability of supply of fuel from source country.

The country has been reeling under acute fuel shortage following the obstruction in import of fuel. This has resulted in difficulties in smooth operation even of lifeline services like public transportation.

The government has been seeking options for importing fuel after fuel tankers and trucks and containers laden with essential commodities have faced obstructions in entering Nepal from India since September 20 — the date the new constitution was promulgated.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, after the promulgation of the constitution, had issued a statement that their freight companies and transporters are hesitant to ferry goods to Nepal citing insecurity in Tarai of Nepal due to the ongoing protests.

The MEA India had also suggested the government to resolve the issue so that Indian transporters could ferry goods smoothly.