Govt to provide security to imports of fuel and essential goods

In its bid to keep scarcity of essential commodities in the market at bay, the government has decided to provide security escorts to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and other importers according to media reports.

Local administration and security agencies have already been deployed to facilitate import of fossil fuels. According to the corporation, it would gear up for import and stock transfer from Thursday. Owing to Tharuhat protests, the import of goods and vehicle movement through Raxaul and other import points have been inhibited over the past week.

As such, it has posed obstacles for the NOC-the petroleum import monopolist-to refill fuel stock in the Kathmandu valley.

The NOC imported 314 kiloliters (KL) of petrol and 348 KL of aviation fuel from Raxaul on Tuesday and Wednesday as Tharuhat protesters halted their strike program over these two days to celebrate Holi festival.

Similarly, the corporation transferred 100 KL of petrol stock to Kathmandu on Tuesday and distributed an additional 72 KL to private dealers from Amlekhgunj depot for sales in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The recently announced security provisions are expected to enable the corporation to restore normal supplies of vehicular and industrial fuel in the Valley. nepalnews.com March 12 09