Our readers feel that it is the Common Man who is the worst-hit  during any  crisis. But they also say that this crisis has taught them a lot of things — to look for  alternatives,  not be  dependent  but be  self-dependent and to  conserve and not waste things that  we take for granted

I tried coping with current shortage with an overall reduction in the consumption and utilisation of resources available. Before the preparation of meal, I keep the rice soaked in water and then preheat it in sunshine so that the cooking time of rice is reduced. In addition, I prepare the rice in a rice-cooker when there is electricity so that the usage of LPG is reduced. Our community prepares our tea and lunch together with the use of wood grill fire pit. I walk the short distance daily so that vehicles can be facilitated for people embarking on longer journeys. I am equally participating in campaigns organised by the youth to address our problem to the authority concerned. I think the usage of alternative sources for our current problem can also be implemented like biogas for cooking.

— Sangita Bhandari, Simpani-8, Lamjung

Yes, we are going through a struggle due to the fuel shortage. When the Constitution of Nepal 2072 got promulgated, we hoped to move forward on the path of prosperity together. But, after just a week our hopes got tangled when Indo-Nepal border was blocked due to the ongoing Tarai protests.

The blockade has severely affected the import of petroleum products along with cooking gas and other food products, which are rarely entering Nepal. And another important festival for all Nepalis — Tihar is round the corner.

Shortage of petrol and diesel has decreased the number of public vehicles rolling on the road, and people aren’t getting enough space even to stand in the vehicles. Private bikes are having a good rest at homes. LPG shortage has shut down most of the restaurants and people are searching for alternatives. The increasing price of groceries and everything has caused a havoc.

I haven’t got my bike out since the last two weeks, I prefer to walk and I’m having less variety in my meal just to save my LPG.

We all appeal to the government to resolve this problem soon.

— Anonymous

There is acute shortage of fuel and other stuff in the Valley. One thing is clear though, if this did not happen, we would have never learnt how dependent we are on our neighbouring country from the tiniest to the biggest things. We teach children to be independent in a country which is the most dependent of all. Today’s situation is the result of too much dependence.

Like others, I am also facing problems as I have to walk one-and-a-half hours a day to reach and return from my office. Although it is not much, but I do so to avoid overloaded buses.

— Pratibha Bhandari

Fuel shortage has adversely affected our daily life. This has worsened the already bad situation and made everyone’s life difficult. Fuel crisis has contributed in huge loss in terms of the country’s economy. There is rise in price of goods and no availability of basic goods in the market. Black marketing and adulteration is likely to be increased. This has severe impact in our life. Our colleges got closed a week prior, people have to travel in over-crowded public vehicles, which is unsafe and we have to wait days and nights in serpentine queues for petrol that we will probably not get.

— Pawan Ram Lamichhane

We Nepalis having sovereign blood in our veins and we don’t know how to bow our head in front of others. We are running out of petrol, diesel and LPG, but our courage is strengthening us to become independent. We are learning to walk in the shortages. Our Dashain became a minimalist celebration but we shouldn’t back down. The Government should focus on encouraging people to use alternate energy sources like solar powered ovens, vehicles, and improved stoves. Likewise, diesel generators in any firm should be replaced by solar panels and oil pumps should be replaced by electric charging pumps. Since we have great potential in hydroelectric energy, the Government can plan for electric tractions, trains and cable cars in the hilly regions in the long run.

As for me, I have been managing by making use of various methods like carpooling, making community kitchen with two or more families to save cooking gas and using improved firewood stoves and I prefer walking short distances rather than travelling in vehicles.

— Nirmal Aryal, Jitpurfedi, Tarkeshwor-7, Kathmandu

I empathise with the people of Nepal for the great hardships that they are currently enduring. However, I sincerely believe that all dark nights come to an end and so will this socio-economic crisis that has broken down in the landlocked Himalayan nation. No matter how strong the local communities feel about the involvement of external forces in contributing to this unfortunate crisis, a second opinion across the globe has been that local political parties have been repeatedly failing in reaching a consensus. The only alternative to get out of this critical situation is a political solution to the problem and to engage in positive dialogues and power sharing between political parties. We have organised political dialogues among various fractions of the Nepali diaspora settled in Canada to look for possible alternatives for their beloved citizens and relatives back home. Any direct fight with global economic and political power is not in the long-term interest of Nepal; and we have been trying our best to request the Nepal government to open back channels to strengthen diplomatic ties with neighbouring countries to end the crisis and stabilise the supply of petroleum products and other essential items for our beloved citizens.

— Saikat Kumar Basu, Lethbridge AB, Canada

Fuel is the most essential things in our day-to-day life today and the blockade has created havoc. If the blockade continues, Nepal Oil Cooperation must find a solution to fulfil the current and long-term demand.

Despite all the tribulations, every man is coping, but the Government should think seriously and take a step forward for the settlement of the current issues because the common man can not tolerate this for long. To deal with the current problem, the best ways are to walk short distances, optimum use of bicycle et cetera.

— Rabindra Kr Neupane, Butwal

To be honest, in order to deal with the current problem of scarcity of essential products including petrol, diesel, cooking gas and medicines, I have been wise while making use of gas stove, personal vehicle (car) and even electricity and water. I know very well that the blockade has been taking a toll on Nepal, which has plagued it’s economic condition at the moment. Right now we need to seek and use alternative sources like using plenty of wood in order to cook food in order to eat.

For our country, the time has come to make enough use of other sources of energy like wind, sun, biogas and even water in the wisest possible way as soon as possible. In order to make it happen, the recently formed government of KP Sharma Oli must work in coordination with the public of Nepal. Only then will an effective as well a permanent solution be sought out due to which we won’t have to face problems

of scarcity.

— Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

Firstly, I would like to salute the Nepalis facing such a miserable condition, earthquakes followed by shortage of petroleum products and cooking gas. I am a student. Being a student it is very hard to pursue our daily life in such an adverse situation. It’s very hard for me including other students to travel to college and return home. At bus stops it’s like a herd of people. We have to wait for vehicles in the scorching heat daily and are disappointed after seeing no place to sit or stand. Our exams were going on and I experienced congestion in the micro-bus, no place to move and tilt also with everyone pushing from all sides. Not only that, it was very hard to get a seat on the roof. In this such a bad time, I asked for lift from many people to reach college. Some kind people gave me lift and others just passed by.

— Anonymous

I am an engineering student in one of the renowned engineering colleges in Nepal. My college is located in the countryside, far from the town, so there is no easy transportation facilities. Almost all the students have to take the college bus with a high fare or take a private vehicle. Now problems have been added due to the fuel shortage, so our college remains closed as there is no option. We are already lagging behind, because of some political issues and strikes in the college and in the university. We are the future of nation, we are the ones who will change the nation but if this continues, then not just students, but the whole nation will lag behind. The government must find a solution because students are the future of the nation and you can’t compromise on quality education.

— Prajwal Pokhrel

We are facing enormous hardship due to the crippling shortage of petroleum products and other important resources ahead of the festive time. Our modern society has taken energy for granted, so I was also the victim of LPG shortage for cooking. In order to solve the present energy crisis, our family switched to alternative source of energy that is bio-briquette as cooking fuel. In addition to this, the ratio of consumption and supply of petroleum products for vehicles is striking in the nation. I stayed for five hours to fuel the tank in my vehicle. It was not possible to get petrol everyday, so I utilised my bicycle that had remained in store for five years. My journey became convenient in this scarcity too.

I think we can explore alternative ways for our existence and to be independent.

— Thirendra Kumar Subedi, Kalyan-5, Surkhet

We were just slowly and steadily moving back to our normal life after the big earthquake hit Nepal on April 25 and May 12 followed by several aftershocks. We hadn’t overcome its fear and again we are compelled to face the troublesome situation that has worsened our life. Crisis of fuel, shortage of cooking oil, salt, spices, vegetables, et cetera has made the life of common man hell. Most of the Nepali people belong to the middle class, they face difficulty in managing even monthly expenditure on the basic salary they get. Due to the long term fuel crisis, people are facing lots of problem to fulfil their basic needs. The condition is worsening as time passes by and no one has a perfect idea that can be implemented to solve this problem. Every single morning employees worry about how to get to the office on time, students worry about how to get to school on time and even teachers reach late, patients are unable to get treatment because either the doctor is late or they cannot reach the hospital for the treatment. The tourism industry and several other industries are going in loss.

Recently my sister had BBA IVth Semester exams, she had to walk from Gongabu to Paknajol to give her exams in the scorching heat as the exams were to start from 12:00 noon and after giving exams she had to walk back home and start preparing for the next one even though she was tired. The next day she would do the same. She was almost ill when her exams got over.

Due to the shortage of gas cylinders we are facing so many problems. There is lack of supply of food and everything else in the market. Price of things even if available has touched the sky. My uncle is also cooking using wood due the shortage of gas; now we are also keeping stock of wood because we will be soon in the same condition. Sometimes I wonder how poor people who have hand to mouth situation survive. This situation has taken us to hell and if we aren’t going to bring alternatives to this crisis, then soon people will die of hunger.

— Sujata Bajracharya, Gongabu-6

Bandh or strikes have always been a part of Nepal. However, this time it has hit harder. The shortage of LPG and petroleum products has troubled homes, offices, restaurants all around Nepal. It is a sad thing that when we are near the festive season there is scarcity of everything.

Every time common man has struggled harder than anyone else. Not only me, everyone of us is searching for alternatives for the shortages. Due to gas shortage, my family has bought heater. We also have lined up for petrol for hours. The enthusiasm for the festive season that we all Nepalis have, has declined due to shortage of vehicles for shopping, lack of varieties in the market and its high cost. I am purchasing whatever is available in the market and hope that everything will be fine soon.

But after dealing with the problem, I have realised that we have literally become so dependent on India that we panicked. Therefore, I think it is essential for Nepalis to work so that we are independent and the innocent citizens won’t have the problem to survive.

— Chandani Shrestha, Buddhanagar

Nepalis are facing a scarcity of cooking gas, petrol and many other things. This is affecting all the citizens in many ways. But we should not take a step backward, rather we need to be strong enough to overcome it. My emotions get hurt seeing passengers waiting eagerly for vehicles to reach the destination. Dashain, one of the greatest festivals of Nepalis was shadowed due to the scarcity. Many people were not able to go to their home towns to celebrate the festival.

Similarly, I organised a cycling programme among my friends on October 12. My purpose was to make people aware that we can cycle which helps us both physically and mentally. We don’t have to suppress our demands by depending on others. But while riding I felt so embarrassed when people teased me. I questioned, “Is there any restriction on girls to cycle?” I comforted myself by telling myself that perhaps cycle is not so familiar in Kathmandu like scooter. So, it looks a bit odd. After all, 10 years ago people used to tease girls who rode scooters. I think it can take time but with time everything will heal and cycle can be used as freely as scooters.

You cannot believe your eyes when you see the queue for petrol. People ask for a favour from me asking me to manage gas for them. “We haven’t been able to eat since so many days,” they say. Words are not enough to express this current situation of Nepal. All we have is hope and this harsh experience has taught us that we should unite and say “WE” not “I”.

Bandana KC, Pepsicola

People wait for fuel in the never ending queues by sacrificing their valuable time and quarrelling with each other when they have to think about the nation and development.

I must admit for the first time I realise the importance of fuel.It is the right time to find

an alternative. Let’s not be dependent, let’s be self-dependent instead!

— Sabina Rana

I’m a 19 years old, patriotic, a middle-class Nepali boy. As I’m too young, it’s my first experience in an economically blocked situation and I know how uneasy it is. This current fuel shortage has changed my lifestyle and made it very difficult. I used to travel mostly by bike. My friends and I always liked to introduce ourselves as bikers.

However, these days, we call ourself Petrol Peedit. On October 13, all my friends lined up for almost 12 hours at a petrol pump but I didn’t choose to do so. Somewhere I felt, it’s like kneeling in front of another country. Nowadays, I travel by public vehicle or I cycle or walk. At home, we are using firewood instead of LPG. My family has decided to continue the same way until the condition gets normal.

But I also believe that there are some positive aspects learnt from this harsh condition. It’ll make all the Nepalis aware, especially young and immature people like me, who are oblivious about the reality. This blockade made us conscious about what another nation can do to us. I feel that our government must have backup plans to protect Nepalis from this type of problem.

— Prasanna Joshi

The situation of fuel crisis is heading from bad to worse. The common man is the one who is the most affected due to the crisis. They are coping with such problems because they don’t have any other choice. The Government isn’t actively working for a solution and is not much concerned and to solve the problem they don’t even understand the present situation and problems that common people are facing. They are so selfish that they are fighting for power and leadership. They are just compromising with the people and situation giving them false hopes. In such a situation if a person has to travel far, they only have a few choices — either they walk or they hitch hike and travel on the bus roof, which is definitely not safe. Not only fuel crisis but there is also dearth of many other important household materials, which has a direct impact on common people. So I hope it will end soon and people will be able to enjoy this festive season.

— Kushal Phuyal, Bageshwori-7, Bhaktapur

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Facebook is full of posts with photographs of people cooking in

chulhos while people are rushing to the LPG depots with their empty cylinders based on rumours that LPG is being distributed. We are going through tough times now and the never-ending queues for petrol, diesel and LPG is going to stretch for how many weeks or months, we do not know, yet we have not lost our will to do the best that we can for our families with whatever we have. So, what positive things have you seen in the life of Nepalis in this difficult period? Illustrate

Send your replies in not more than 200 words by Friday, November 6 by 2 pm to Features Department, The Himalayan Times, e-mail: features@thehimalayantimes.co