BITATNAGAR, Nov 18: A total of 145 petrol, 477 diesel and 142 LPG bullet tanks have entered Nepal through Jobgani checkpoint alone in the last 56 days since India's unofficial blockade. Of these, 108 petrol, 357 diesel and 106 bullet tanks are said to have been taken to Kathmandu.
Each 10 wheeler tanker has a capacity to carry 12,000 liter of diesel or petrol. Sources say that the tankers sent to Kathmandu are all 10 wheelers. That means, Kathmandu has received huge amount of fuel that entered Nepal via Jogbani checkpoint. Sources estimate the quantity of petrol alone sent to Kathmandu is 2.1 million liter. As per the direction of Home Ministry, 75 percent of the fuel from Biratnagar depot has been sent to Kathmandu, sources claim.
Each 10 wheeler tanker has a capacity to carry 12,000 liter of diesel or petrol. Sources say that the tankers sent to Kathmandu are all 10 wheelers. That means, Kathmandu has received huge amount of fuel that entered Nepal via Jogbani checkpoint. Sources estimate the quantity of petrol alone sent to Kathmandu is 2.1 million liter. As per the direction of Home Ministry, 75 percent of the fuel from Biratnagar depot has been sent to Kathmandu, sources claim.
However, fuel crisis in Kathmandu remains as it is. This has left many in surprise. Rest of the fuel entered through Jogbani border has been sent to Koshi and Sagarmatha zone. Sources estimate at least 4, 32,000 liters of petrol have been sent to these zones though fuel distribution even in there is not close to normal. On the other hand, even if fuel enters through Jogbani and stored in Biratnagar, local consumers have to face great hassles to get fuel. They queue up for hours to get just five liters of petrol. In the last 56 days, depots have distributed petrol and diesel for five times to the locals. And there is dissatisfaction among them over the huge black marketing of fuel in capital.
"If the fuel coming from Jogbani border was not sent to Kathmandu, we would not have to face this scarcity," said Arbind Sharma, Vice Chairperson of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association. "The fuel was sent to meet people's demand. But they are not getting it. Where has the fuel gone?" he questioned.
One of the petroleum dealers informed that huge quantity of extra fuel is going to Kathmandu in the form of 'gift' apart from what is being sent openly through the oil corporation.
After the Indian blockade, no fuel and goods were supplied through Jogbani border for 12 days in the beginning. Following rounds of discussions between the concerned officials of the two countries, supplies had resumed through the Jogbani border. As soon as the supply was resumed, Home Ministry wrote a letter to Morang Administration asking it to send 75 percent of the petroleum products to Kathmandu. "As per the direction of the Home Ministry, 75 percent of the petroleum products are being sent to the capital with police escorting," a police officer told Republica.
According to NOC's regional office in Biratnagar, which is liable to supply needed fuel for Koshi and Sagarmatha zones, 30 tanks of petroleum products per day are consumed in there. That is equal to 2, 00, 000 liter of petrol and 4, 00, 000 liter of diesel. "This is what is demanded in normal days. However, since the blockade, the situation is different. Due to the lack of fuel, very few vehicles ply on the road," said a petroleum dealer.
Petroleum products for Nepal are imported by the regional office of the NOC in Biratnagar through Barauni Refinary Depot of India. The regional head of the corporation Khilendra Karki stated that the details of the oil transactions cannot be provided to media.
"If the fuel coming from Jogbani border was not sent to Kathmandu, we would not have to face this scarcity," said Arbind Sharma, Vice Chairperson of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association. "The fuel was sent to meet people's demand. But they are not getting it. Where has the fuel gone?" he questioned.
One of the petroleum dealers informed that huge quantity of extra fuel is going to Kathmandu in the form of 'gift' apart from what is being sent openly through the oil corporation.
After the Indian blockade, no fuel and goods were supplied through Jogbani border for 12 days in the beginning. Following rounds of discussions between the concerned officials of the two countries, supplies had resumed through the Jogbani border. As soon as the supply was resumed, Home Ministry wrote a letter to Morang Administration asking it to send 75 percent of the petroleum products to Kathmandu. "As per the direction of the Home Ministry, 75 percent of the petroleum products are being sent to the capital with police escorting," a police officer told Republica.
According to NOC's regional office in Biratnagar, which is liable to supply needed fuel for Koshi and Sagarmatha zones, 30 tanks of petroleum products per day are consumed in there. That is equal to 2, 00, 000 liter of petrol and 4, 00, 000 liter of diesel. "This is what is demanded in normal days. However, since the blockade, the situation is different. Due to the lack of fuel, very few vehicles ply on the road," said a petroleum dealer.
Petroleum products for Nepal are imported by the regional office of the NOC in Biratnagar through Barauni Refinary Depot of India. The regional head of the corporation Khilendra Karki stated that the details of the oil transactions cannot be provided to media.
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