Kathmandu, July 31:

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) took action against 50 petroleum distributors and transporters for blackmarketing and adulteration of petroleum products during the past fiscal year.

Despite the shortage of petroleum products in authorised dealers, low quality petrol, diesel and kerosene are available at unauthorised distributors, automobile workshops and even the general stores at exorbitant prices.

Most of the times, the quality of the products purchased from the blackmarket is poor and adulterated, which can cause severe damages to vehicles if used for long time, officials say.

"Keeping in view with the situation, we probed the situation and took action against over 50 authorised distributors and fuel transport contractors across the nation for involvement in such illegal activities," said Ananda Raj Acharya, manager at the Quality Control and Monitoring Department of the corporation.

Of late, the NOC suspended supply to Sita Trade Centre in Balkhu, New Basundhara Oil Store in Dhapasi and Ganga Traders in Maharjgunj for misusing the fuel and supplying it to the blackmarket. It also suspended the supply to Narayan Oil Store in Banepa for a month and penalised Rs 100,000 for supplying adulterated diesel.