Consumers are compelled to form a long queue to get fuels as smooth supply was disrupted due to a weeklong strikes called by tanker workers and other organizations. The public holidays that fell in between also slowed the petroleum imports.[break]
“It will take at least a couple of days to bring the supplies of petroleum products to normal level,” said Shiva Prasad Pudasaini, spokesperson of NOC, on Monday.
NOC, the state-owned petroleum monopoly, distributed 480 kilo liters of petroleum products and 870 kilo liters of diesel from Thankot depot on Sunday for the Kathmandu Valley.
During the normal time, NOC used to distribute on an average 350 kilo liters of petrol and 400 kilo liters of diesel per day for the capital. Around 140 fuel pumps operate in the Valley and surrounding districts.
Pudasaini said the NOC will not supply fuels on Tuesday on account of a national holiday to mark Lhosar festival.
Pudasaini also said the volume of import has decreased due to the decline in the number of tankers carrying petroleum products from Barauni of India. The number of tankers dwindled to around 40 per day from 65 earlier.
“Tankers workers are scared to go to India to collect fuel after the recent murder of a tanker help,” said Pudasaini.
Tanker workers ended their three-day agitation against the killing of the tanker help and resumed transporting petroleum products from last Tuesday after NOC agreed to arrange security for tanker workers and a relief to the family of the deceased tanker help.
However, petroleum supplies could not pick up as NOC failed to arrange full-fledged supplies during the public holidays.
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