Sahadev Karki

Lahan, January 27

The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has been blamed for creating artificial kerosene shortage in the district. At a time when there is a shortage of standard rate kerosene, NOC has stopped

providing subsidized kerosene to dealers.

Ishwor Acharya, chief of Salt Trading Ltd (STC), Lahan, said that there are more than 0.25 million people who use subsidised kerosene in the district. According to Acharya, subsidised kerosene is given to 45 dealers in the district and around 0.71 million litres of kerosene is distributed monthly in VDC areas. Similarly, 19,495 litres of kerosene is distributed in Lahan municipality whereas 21,397 litres is distributed in Siraha municipality each month.

Acharya informed that some

of the subsidised kerosene dealers have complained that they have not yet received kerosene that had to reach them in the first week of Magh.

Dev Nath Shah, subsidised kerosene dealer for Maheshpur, Kharukyahi and Laximipur, said that he went to Biratnagar branch of the NOC twice to get kerosene but was not provided with any amount. Shah has been distributing around 1,000 litres of kerosene in the three VDCs and said that this NOC attitude has created severe kerosene shortage in rural areas. It has been learnt that subsidised kerosene for Magh has not reached any dealer in Siraha. Similarly, Nathuni Shah, dealer for Pokharaminda VDC, said that he has to return hundreds of customers empty-handed daily due to the kerosene shortage. He added that the cold wave has fuelled the kerosene shortage. It is to be noted that electricity has not reached Pokharaminda yet.

According to subsidised kerosene coupon system, three litres of petrol per family is provided in VDC areas while in city

areas, three to ten litres is provided according to the number of family members.

Though there are more than 1,300 customers in three VDCs, the system of NOC to provide either 3,000 or 6,000 litres of kerosene has created problems. Dealers said that 3,000 litres become too less and 6,000 litres do not get consumed.

When asked about the misuse of subsidised kerosene, dealer Devendra Shah said that they have to invest around Rs 0.1 million in this business and make profits of around Rs 900 per month, which is very less.

The STC, Siraha, said that seven of the subsidised kerosene dealers have broken the contract.

Since nobody knows when subsidised kerosene is likely to arrive, kerosene is being black marketed in the market for Rs 30 to 40 per litre. Many shops in Lahan bazaar are selling kerosene for Rs 40 per litre.

Raj Kumar Shrestha, proprietor of Shailendra Offset Press, said that the unavailability of even standard rate kerosene in the market has created problems in running his press.