Fuel crisis showing no sign of abating
Long queues continue to be the common sight at major refilling stations in
the valley as the efforts to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products
have not reaped any fruit.
The shortage of fuel scarcity has once again dealt severe blow to ordinary
consumers as the Federation of Petroleum Products Transporters has gone on
strike since Sunday demanding the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) scrap the
new provision under which tankers more than 20 years old have been
prohibited from carrying oil
It has also demanded that Indian tankers be banned from transporting oil.
However, the NOC, the state-run monopoly in supply of petroleum products
does seem to be in no mood to acquiesce to the demands of petroleum
transporters.
The NOC on Wednesday came up with warning to label the agitation fuel
transporters as terrorists if they continued with their protest
corroborates the above mentioned fact.
"If they (petroleum transporters) continue to obstruct smooth supply of
petroleum products, NOC will recommend to the government to enforce the
Essential Services Act (ESA) and label them as terrorists," said Digambar
Jha, executive director, NOC.
The NOC also informed it distributed 185 kiloliters (KL) of petrol, 405 KL
of diesel and 95 KL of kerosene in Kathmandu Valley in its bid to ease the
fuel supply.
Nevertheless, as a huge chunk of private retailers are flatly denying
opening their shutters, consumers have been facing great difficulties to
buy petroleum products from a limited number of distributors.
Moreover, as the corporation has not been able to import and transfer
stocks of fuel since Sunday, this is bound to deepen the shortage of fuel
in days to come.
The agitating transporters have also threatened to continue with their
strike unless their demands are met.
As such, the possibility of more acute fuel crisis in near days has only
augmented.
"The perennial onset of fuel shortage speaks volumes on the pathetic state
of consumer rights in the country. And, it is really depressing to get
constantly devoid of essential commodities like fuel," lamented Bhaskar
Koirala, a commoner. nepalnews.com April 2 09
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