Kathmandu, April 16:

Shortage of petroleum products has hit consumers and petrol pumps alike in the Kathmandu valley for over five days due to the indefinite strike going on across the country.

Though, very few vehicles were plying on the streets in the valley during the last week, consumers have been suffering from the shortage of petroleum products. Similarly, petrol pump owners accuse Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) for the short supply. “NOC did not provide petroleum products to us, though we have already paid them,” they complained.

Krishna Shrestha, a consumer at Tahachal talking to The Himalayan Times complained that he has made several rounds to the petroleum pumps at the Kalimati, Kuleshwore and Sundhara area, he could not get petrol for his motorbike. He said that he had been facing acute shortage of petrol for the past five days.

However, Punya Prasad Neupane, spokesperson and joint secretary at the ministry of industry, commerce and supplies told The Himalayan Times that there is no shortage of petroleum products in the market currently. Neupane also commented that supply of petroleum products, however, is not smooth, due to transportation problem. “There was sufficient stock of LPG but transportation problem might have affected its distribution also,” he added.

Petroleum dealers have also accused NOC for not supplying the petroleum products. Dhrub Sapkota at the Harisiddhi Oil Store, Minbhawan blamed NOC for not supplying petrol, despite his earlier payment. Sapkota’s store has not been able to sell petrol for over four days, due to NOC’s monopolistic attitude. He accused NOC for supplying petrol from Thankot depot in the Kathmandu Valley to Army and the government-owned petrol pumps only. However, Umesh Dahal, acting executive chairman of NOC said, “There is no shortage.” He said that yesterday alone, NOC has provided 1,10,000 liters of petrol to 25 different dealers from Thankot depot. However, petrol pumps in the valley, except government owned, say NOC has not supplied petroleum products to them. Dahal, meanwhile, accused the dealers for not going to Thankot depot to collect fuel.

Ajit Ansari, a staff at Three Brothers Oil Store, New Baneswore also complained the government’s apathy towards them. “As they did not supply us petroleum products from Thankot Depot, how could we provide it to our customers,” he asked. Dahal did not want to disclose the stock of petroleum products NOC has at present. He instead said, “NOC has sufficient stock of petroleum products.”

Dahal also informed that 111 tankers of petroleum products are being stranded on the way to Kathmandu due to strike, which are carrying about 13,32,000 litres of petroleum products.