Some 15 diplomatic missions including the Indian embassy have written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting it to manage supply of petroleum products as their day to day operations have been affected due to shortage of fuel.According to sources at the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the diplomatic missions, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have requested the corporation to provide fuel.
"Interestingly, the Indian embassy has requested for more fuel than other embassies," said the source, requesting anonymity.
The diplomatic missions had sent letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday requesting to arrange the fuel for them. The ministry forwarded the letters to the NOC on Monday asking the corporation to arrange fuel for the diplomatic missions.
However, Nepal is reeling under acute shortage of petroleum products since the last 10 days due to the unofficial blockade by India. India, showing its displeasure over the new constitution, had imposed the embargo although the Constituent Assembly (CA) of Nepal had promulgated the constitution with the approval of 90 percent of CA members, which is the highest in the world, till now.
It is also the first time in the history of Nepal that people's representatives have written the constitution by themselves. But India, taking side with some of the disgruntled parties, blocked the supplies to Nepal violating international laws and UN conventions. The country is facing humanitarian crisis due to blockade.
The NOC sources said that it is difficult to supply the fuel to the missions until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitates smooth supply of petroleum products from India. "Nepalis are facing acute shortage of fuel since the last 10 days," the source said, adding, "We have no idea how to meet the demands of the diplomatic missions, as our own people are reeling under acute shortage. However, we will try our best to manage the supply of fuel to the diplomatic missions as they are our guests."
As the festive season is nearing, the NOC is under pressure to provide fuel to the long-route transportation vehicles. "As the festivals are nearing, people will go to their villages and we are under extreme pressure to supply the fuel to the long-route transportation," according to the NOC source.
Since the unofficial blockade by India on Nepal, Indian Oil Corporation -- the sole fuel supplier for the NOC -- has been sending only a couple of fuel tankers to Nepal everyday which does not comply with the commercial agreement signed between the two corporations. That amount cannot even meet 10 percent of the market demand. There have been long queues at the petrol pumps across the country.
The diplomatic missions in Kathmandu are completely aware of the ground realities, the NOC source said, adding that the NOC is holding discussions in this regard. "We are taking stock of the situation and discussing how much fuel we can provide to our guests."
The Indian embassy is seeking 150 liters of fuel for every three days, whereas other missions including Sri Lankan, French, Australian and Thai embassies have asked for 100 liters of fuel, the NOC source informed.
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