The student unions on the day brought sales of petroleum products through refilling stations to a grinding halt to pile pressure on the government to rollback the decision. Privately-owned refilling stations remained closed on Saturday - the first day of the three-day protest. [break]
“The meeting couldn´t find any breakthrough. We apprised the student unions of the worsening financial condition of NOC due to soaring international prices of petroleum products. And they said they won´t compromise on their demands,” Suresh Agrawal, officiating managing director of NOC, told Republica.
Agrawal also said NOC will forward the demands placed by the student unions to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) on Monday.
NOC had raised price of petrol by Rs 5 per liter, diesel and kerosene by Rs 3 per liter each and air turbine fuel (ATF) by Rs 7 per liter last week. With the fresh adjustment in prices, monthly loss of NOC has come down to Rs 1.33 billion from Rs 1.62 billion.
The ailing NOC has accumulated loss of Rs 27 billion and outstanding loans worth Rs 28 billion.
The students unions have vowed to continue their protest until their demand is addressed. “We will withdraw our protest only if the decision to hike prices of petroleum products is withdrawn,” UP Lamichhane, spokesperson of Nepal Students Union, told Republica.
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