Far-west reeling under shortage of fuel

Dhangadi, October 5

Far-west is reeling under an acute shortage of petroleum products as Nepal Oil Corporation stopped importing fuel from India during Dashain holidays.

Petrol pump owners say that all districts in the far-west are coping with fuel shortage. Most of the petrol pumps have pulled down their shutters for want of fuel.

Nepal Oil Corporation Regional Office, Dhangadi, does not have adequate storage of petroleum products which has led to the acute shortage of fuel in the region.

Shivraj Bhandari Chief at Nepal Oil Corporation Regional Office Dhangadi said lack of adequate petroleum storage capacity and almost a week long holidays had caused fuel crisis in the region.

According to Bhandari, far-west region requires 100,000 litres of petrol on a daily basis. Petrol scarcity has hit motorbike riders very hard.

Khagendra Bohora of Dhangadi complained that he had not got petrol though he visited almost all petrol pumps in Dhangadi.

“My two-wheeler is gathering dust at home for want of petrol,” Bohora said.

Fuel required for the far-west is imported from India’s Banthara depot via Gaurifanta border point. Bhandari said that fuel scarcity would be solved as soon as transporters resume importing fuel. He added transporters would resume their work from Wednesday.

Except Bajura and Bajhang, all districts of the far-west have fuel stations. There are 15 petrol pumps in Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan City alone.