Birgunj, February 16:

There seems little chance of the petrol crisis easing soon, thanks to the ongoing agitation in the Tarai. Though Nepal Oil Corporation had given a written guarantee of providing compensation for damaged tankers and injured drivers, the supply is yet to resume to the desired level.

Yesterday, Supply Minister Shyam Sunadr Gupta promised a cash award of Rs 2,000 to every driver who took an oil tanker to Kathmandu, but the tanker owners and drivers are still reluctant to take the risk.

Eight tankers were sent to Kathmandu under police escort after Gupta’s assurance. Today, 25 empty oil tankers had set out from Amlekhgunj depot for Raxaul of India to fetch petroleum products but the tankers drivers ran into rough weather at Jeetpur and went out of contact. NOC regional manager Keshav Raj Joshi said: “None of the drivers have come in contact after they had a dispute with the bandh organisers. How can we bring in petroleum products from Raxaul?”

The supply contractors have balked at providing tankers to NOC. Most of the tankers are parked at petrol pumps of Hetauda in Makwanpur district and Chitwan district. Birgunj is the nearest checkpoint from where petroleum products are imported into Nepal

Meanwhile, Nepal Tanker Drivers’ Association president, Binod Manandhar, issued a press statement, expressing support for the Madhes agitation and urging tanker drivers not to join work. Earlier, Madhesi agitators had gheraoed Manadhar at his residence in Birgunj municipality 5, and demanded that he express support for the agitation and not cooperate with the government.

Today, 21 oil tankers from Raxaul of India reached Kathmandu under police escort.

The Midwest region police headquarters sent six tankers in the morning laden with petrol, diesel and aviation fuel and 15 more in the afternoon to Kathmandu, said Makwanpur superintendent of police Romendra Singh Deuja.