Dhangadhi, May 16:

Work on most development projects in the far-western region has come to a halt due to an acute shortage of petroleum products.

Thanks to the shortage, office of the Darchula-based Chameliya Hydro Electricity Project (CHEP) is finding it difficult to continue work on the development of a 30 MW power plant.

Two days ago, the CHEP office demanded the regional office of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to provide 350 kilolitres of petroleum products, regional chief of the NOC Jhank Bahadur Poudel said. “As the amount demanded was quite large, we told the CHEP to contact the central office,” he added.

Work on the construction of a bridge over Taru river on the Khodpe-Bajhang section of the Jayaprithvi Bahadur road has also come to a halt due to the shortage of diesel, contractor Dharmaraj Koirala said.

Construction of buildings of Beladevipur School in Kailali, Dhangadhi-Khutiya road, a bridge over the Kailash river on the Sanfebagar-Mangalsen road and another bridge over the Ikadi river on the Sanfebagar-Bajura road has also been halted due to fuel shortage.