People say NOC has not improved supplies to pump to allow black-marketers to clear their stock. Despite expressing commitment to resume regular supplies to pumps from Friday, NOC is supply fuel to only few pumps. But none of the pump distributed fuel on the day.
Out of 105 pumps in Kathmandu Valley, NOC distributed fuel to 67 pumps on Saturday and 81 pumps on Sunday, citing reduced supply from India on Saturday and Sunday. However, figures show IOC has been supplying almost 70 percent of the demand of petroleum products. Its Raxaul depot supplied 1,800 KL and 11 KL of petroleum products to NOC on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. IOC had supplied 268 KL, 1,310 KL, 1,368 KL and 1,718 KL of petroleum products to NOC on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, last week.
Before the blockade, IOC was supplying around 2,500 KL of petroleum products to NOC on a daily basis.
"NOC has not provided fuel to all pumps. All the pumps, which received supplies from NOC, are distributing to customers, accordingly," Bishwo Prasad Aryal, general secretary of Nepal Petroleum Dealers National Association, said.
Mukunda Ghimire, spokesperson of NOC, said the state-owned fuel monopolist had been supplying fuel to pumps on rotational basis. "Pumps which did not receive fuel today will get fuel tomorrow," he added.
Though both NOC and petroleum dealers claim that they have made distribution of petroleum products regular, it has not improved availability of petroleum products in any way. The only winners are black-marketers who are getting time to clear their stock.
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