“We have requested the tanker operators to increase the number of tankers on the Barauni route, the vital supply route -- so that we could increase fuel supply in the market,” said Shiva Prasad Pudasaini, spokesperson of NOC.[break]
Pudasaini said supply would ease if the tanker operators added 15 more tankers on the Barauni route.
Normally, around 65 tankers would operate in the route but following the murder the number has dropped to 40.
Import of petroleum products has also been affected as the Indian Oil Corporation´s Raxaul depot is currently undergoing maintenance. “Daily import of petroleum from Raxual depot has decreased to 1,600 kiloliters per day from 2,500 kiloliters during the normal period,” said Pudasaini.
Meanwhile, NOC said around 340 kiloliters of fuel will arrive at the Kathmandu Valley´s Thankot depot by Wednesday.
NOC, which failed resume petroleum distribution on Tuesday, is planning to distribute around 300 kiloliters of petrol and 700-800 kiloliters of diesel on Wednesday.
Consumers are forced to wait in long queues for fuel after fuel shortage caused by the strike called by the tanker operators. Also, the supply was slow due to the public holidays.
NOC had distributed 480 kiloliters of petroleum products and 870 kiloliters of diesel from the Thankot depot on Sunday.
During normal times, NOC distributes on an average 350 kiloliters of petrol and 400 kiloliters of diesel per day for the capital. There are around 140 fuel pumps in the valley and surrounding districts.
Tanker workers and operators had ended their three-day agitation against the killing of the tanker help and resumed transporting petroleum products from last Tuesday after NOC agreed to provide security for tanker workers and relief to the family of the deceased tanker help.
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