NOC tells fuel transporters not to join protests

Kathmandu, April 19

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has warned fuel transporters that it would scrap their contract with the corporation if they are found to be disrupting fuel supply in the name of solidarity with protest activities recently unveiled by public transporters.

In the backdrop of fuel transporters backing agitating public transporters who have announced to protest against the government’s recent moves to end the prevalent syndicate system in the domestic transportation industry, NOC today said that fuel transporters should not halt supply of petroleum products at any cost.

“Fuel transporters have signed a contract with the government and NOC has been paying them transportation fare. Thus, NOC will not only scrap the contract of those transporters that halt fuel supply but will even confiscate the vehicles of such fuel transporters,” said Sushil Bhattarai, acting deputy managing director of NOC.

NOC has already asked fuel transporters to ensure regular supply of petroleum products amid protests announced by public transporters.

“The government will not tolerate artificial shortage in the supply of essential goods like fuel,” added Bhattarai.

Almost 1,800 privately-owned tankers are currently supplying fuel in the country.

The agitating transporters, on Wednesday, had announced a series of protest activities, including indefinite public transportation strike from May 10 against the government’s move to end transport syndicate and scrap existing transport bodies (transport committees and associations).

Bishwo Prasad Aryal, general secretary of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association, had expressed his solidarity with the protest announced by transporters.

“As transporters are fighting for the common right of transport entrepreneurs, we will support the protest activities of transporters,” said Aryal.

Meanwhile, drivers and co-drivers of public transportation in the country have said that they will not participate in the protest activities initiated by different transport committees and associations.

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) — the umbrella body representing the country’s private sector — has also welcomed the decision of the government to end syndicate system in the country’s public transportation industry.