The protest, which continued for two hours, affected all the works at the state-owned NOC, making it unable to transport petroleum products to the market.[break]
The NOC has been facing problems ferrying petroleum products from Barauni of India since Friday. This had started creating shortage of oil in the market. “The protest on Sunday has further worsened the problem, disrupting the entire supply system,” said Birendra Goit, chief of the NOC Regional Office, Biratnagar.
Entrepreneurs in Biratnagar, led by the Morang Trade Association (MTA) and the Chamber of Industries (CoI), Morang, had decided to launch the protest, following the NOC´s Dec 10 decision of introducing dual pricing for diesel and kerosene. After this, the price of diesel for industries, hotels, hospitals and diplomatic missions had gone up to Rs 95 per liter, while the fuel meant for general public and transport sector had remained unchanged at Rs 76 per liter.
Dinesh Golchha, chairman of Chamber of Industries, Morang, meanwhile, urged the government to revert to single price regime. “The dual pricing for diesel should come to an end immediately as this will affect all the industries and eventually the national economy,” he added.
Soon after the new price regime was introduced, the MTA and CoI had asked all the industries in the region to stop purchasing oil at the new rate.
However, it is said Pashupati Biscuit, Eastern Sugar Mills, Aarati Strips and Jasmine Hygienic had bought 4,000 liters, 6,000 liters, 40,000 liters and 3,000 liters, respectively, according to the NOC.
The MTA and CoI have warned to take action against those who violated the decision to boycott diesel purchase from the NOC.
It is said most of the industries on Morang-Sunsari corridor, which sees daily power cuts of up to six hours, have maintained diesel inventory sufficient for at least a week. Each industry on the corridor consumes 200-1,500 liters of diesel per day.
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