INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, APRIL 2Petrol pumps inside Kathmandu valley have yet again started seeing
long serpentine lines of motorists to fill their vehicles with petrol and diesel.
Govt sets new deadline for completion of
Banchare Danda landfill site, yet again
Over half of total covid-cases
reported Tuesday detected in Kathmandu valley alone
Long lines of motorcycles and other vehicles have started becoming visible at almost all petrol pumps, while many pumps have declared they
are not holding any petrol
Motorcyclists and small motorists have started queuing at petrol pumps fearing shortage of petrol.
Today, hundreds of
metres long lines were seen at petrol pumps run by Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force
Many petrol pumps have posted 'No petrol' or 'No diesel' sign at the pumps.The situation unfolded after India, the sole distributor of
fossil fuel to Nepal, sent petroleum products at new hiked rate
This has created panic among commuters that they might have to pay higher price for petrol
On the other hand, petrol pumps find this an opportunity to sell their stock gasoline at hiked price
So they take it as opportunity to create artificial shortage of petroleum products.That's why the increased demand and decreased supply of
petroleum products have created the recent problem, which is likely to get worse in the coming days
This is happening because the international price of crude oil has drastically increased in the past few months owing to the ongoing
Meanwhile, Nepal Oil Corporation, the sole authorised body for distribution and supervision of petroleum products and cooking gas, has said
that the market has ample petroleum products despite the rumours
It, however, has stressed that the corporation is in constant loss as it is compelled to provide petrol at subsidised rate rather than the
actual rate.According to a press release issued by the Corporation, there will be a loss of Rs 10 billion in a month if they continue to
sell petroleum products at the current rate
The corporation has stated that it will be very difficult to maintain the petroleum supply system in the coming days with this rate.The
NOC's frequent remarks have created panic among the public that the price of petroleum products could skyrocket any time soon
The shortage has been further aggravated by businessmen who have blocked the transportation of petroleum products across the country with
various demands.A version of this article appears in the print on April 3, 2022, of The Himalayan Times
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com