Fuel shortage eased

As Terai unrest turns normalcy following an address of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on the demands of Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF), fuel shortage had cooled down. The Kathmanu valley received substantial volume of petroleum products, cooking gas and other essential commodities on Thursday.

According to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), it received some 700,000 liters of petroleum product on Thurdsday. Similarly, gas companies had customs clearance for additional 350 tons of cooking gas from Birgunj, an unrest-hit city.

The distribution of diesel and kerosene is normal in market. According NOC, it distributed 210,000 liters of diesel and 155,000 liters of kerosene in the market Thursday.

A report quoted Iccha Bikram Thapa, NOC spokesperson as saying that NOC managed the entry of 58 petroleum tankers in the valley. According to him, the great majority of that number had come from Bhairawaha while few were received from Amlekhgunj after tankers stranded in Raxaul started to ferry in fuel to replenish the stock there.

Thankot depot received 96,000 liters of petrol, over 432,000 liters of diesel and 168,000 liters of kerosene.

The government had decided stop fuel supply to the private pumps assigning only nine refilling stations operated by Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Sajha (cooperative). The dada shows these nine pumps of the valley received 126,000 liters of petrol Thursday.

Though the supply made Thursday is equivalent to the supply made on any normal day, long queues are still seen in valley due to the reduced supply points.

NOC officials said shortage of petroleum products would come to a complete end within few days if the situation in Terai becomes normal.

Similarly, NOC had cleared customs of additional 19 bullets (gas tankers) ferrying some 350 tons of cooking gas on Thursday.