Kathmandu, October 17
On Monday, drivers across the country found themselves unable to refuel their vehicles at petrol pumps after running out of fuel. A majority of petrol pumps displayed a notice stating ‘no petrol’. Despite regular supplies from the Nepal Oil Corporation, what led to this shortage?
The specific reason for this situation is unique. On Sunday evening, the Nepal Oil Corporation opted to reduce the prices of diesel and petrol. They decided to lower the diesel price by Rs 5 per litre and petrol by Rs 11 per litre.
However, petrol pumps nationwide, including those in the Kathmandu valley, stopped petrol sales as a form of protest against the sudden price reduction, claiming they were not informed about the decision in advance.
Upon speaking to a dozen petrol pumps in Kathmandu Valley, Nawalparasi, and Makwanpur, Onlinekhabar discovered that they stopped selling petroleum products as a sign of protest against the NOC’s decision to reduce fuel prices.
Achyut Khadka, President of the Petroleum Dealers Association in Bagmati Province, said that the Corporation’s decision to decrease fuel prices had incurred huge losses for the pumps.
“NOC told us prices would not be lowered during Dashain and Tihar festivals,” he said. “I have faced a loss of Rs 260,000 personally.”
