Following the incident, number of Nepali motorcycles transporting the oil through the border decreased with corresponding increase in the number of Indian motorcycles doing the same job.
There is scarcity of fuel across the country due to the unofficial Indian blockade. Like in other places, people in this part too have to wait for weeks to get fuel at local fuel stations. Even the government offices are being provided petroleum limited quantity of fuel. Despite the scarcity of fuel at petrol pumps, vehicles plying on the roads have hardly declined. What could be the secret behind this? Smuggled fuel!
Concerned authorities and petroleum dealers claim that the smuggled fuel has worked for at least 40 percent of the total demand. "At least 40 percent of total fuel demand in the market is met by smuggled petroleum products," said a police officer, who wished to remain unidentified, in Morang district. "You can see so many vehicles plying on the road. Most of them are using smuggled diesel and petrol," he added.
He said that the government itself has informally directed the local administration and police not to obstruct the supply of fuel irrespective of how it has been brought into the country. "Government has directed for not intervening at all in the import of fuel through such informal channels. The informal circular issues has stressed on not intervening at all if the fuel is meant for Kathmandu,” he said adding that they are compelled quiet despite being aware of the smuggling.
According to the official, people who earlier were involved in various illegal transactions along the border area, have now switched to smuggling of fuel.
"There is a separate mini petrol pump in operation in the border. That serves for smugglers," said a local petroleum dealer Arbind Sharma. He added that even his close friends do not press him much for oil as they can easily buy smuggled petrol in the market. "Or else, we would be quite pressured by close buddies."
Home Ministry had issued an order to the local administration in Morang to supply 75 percent of petrol to the capital. Following the order, the said quantity of fuel was sent to Kathmandu with police escorting. However, in after the eastern region itself began to reel under severe fuel crisis, only 60 percent of the fuel was sent to Kathmandu, Ganesh Raj Karki, chief district office (CDO) of Morang informed.
Karki informed 2.6 million liter of petrol and 6.3 million liter of diesel has been imported to Nepal from India through Jogbani border alone in the last one month. Though 40 percent on the fuel is kept in the eastern region, it's very hard for consumers to get legally imported fuel. The administration has prioritized security agencies, public transport, builders and agriculture sector for providing fuel. The remaining fuel is distributed among commoners. However, this has not kept private vehicles off the street.
"Pay Rs 150 to 200 per liter and you can get as much petrol as you want. They sell it in mineral water bottles," said Santosh Subedi, a local resident. "There is no dearth of people selling petrol. We can buy it without hassle."
According to Morang's Police Superintendent Tarani Prasad Lamsal, police is aware of the unsafe methods used in transporting and storing of petroleum products used by smugglers but claimed that the police have not been able to do much about it. "Insecure storage and transportation of fuel has led to fire break out in several places," he said.
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