“The government has positively responded to our request to provide security to transporters to enable import of fossil fuel,” said Mukunda Dhungel, NOC spokesperson. As local administration and security agencies have already been mobilized for the purpose, the corporation said it would gear up import and stock transfer from Thursday. Import of goods and vehicle movement through Raxaul and other import points have remained disturbed over the past week due to Tharuhat protests. It has affected replenishment of fuel stock in the Kathmandu Valley, forcing the NOC to ration petrol supply.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of Holi festival, which was celebrated in Tarai on Tuesday and Wednesday, the NOC imported 314 kiloliters (KL) of petrol and 348 KL of aviation fuel from Raxaul. Tharuhat protesters had relaxed their bandh strike over these two festive days.
Likewise, the NOC transferred 100 KL of petrol stock to Kathmandu on Tuesday and distributed an additional 72 KL to private dealers from Amlekhgunj depot for sales in Kathmandu on Wednesday. “The supply, though not enough, will reach Kathmandu by Wednesday evening, easing the supply situation,” said Dhungel.
The corporation also distributed 168 KL of petrol from Thankot depot to 10 institutional dealers, including the army, police, armed police force and Sajha cooperatives run refilling stations for local distribution in the Kathmandu Valley.
The quantity distributed on the day was equal to normal demand of the fuel. As a result, fewer vehicles were seen queuing at refilling stations on Wednesday.
With security arrangements in place, the corporation has estimated it would be able to restore normal supplies of vehicular and industrial fuel in the Valley. However, it noted imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) could still fall short due to slow movement and difficulty providing security to larger truck-tankers ferrying the gas.
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