More than two dozen petrol pump stations in Bardibas, Gaushala, Jaleshwar, Aurahi, Ramgopalpur of Mahottari district have closed down due to the strike and sit-ins called by the United Democratic Madhesi Forum (UDMF) since 74 days.Although "No petrol" placards have been kept at petrol pump stations since more than two and a half months, it is not uncommon to find people selling petrol in plastic bottles in the district.
Every day, hundreds of liters of fuel are smuggled secretly from places adjacent to the border areas of Mahottari district like Madhwapur, Nauwahi, Sursand, Kanhama and Saharghat of Bihar state of India.
The petrol bought at only IRs 67 per liter from across the border is being sold at double or even triple the price at about NRs 200-300 per liter.
The people previously involved in transporting goods brought illegally from across the border have switched to this business to make better income.
They provide the fuel to local shop-keepers at wholesale price and make their earning.
The locals then use motorcycles to transport the smuggled fuel secretly by filling up their motorbike tanks and also by hiding in gallons inside jute sacks.
Lakshmi Sah, a local of Jaleshwar- 4 said that a bottle of 800 grams is being sold as a liter of petrol.
"The sellers have also been playing with the quantity along with the price of petrol. However, we have no choice other than to buy it," said Sah.
The current season of festivities has made it easier for such black marketers to conduct their businesses.
The petroleum products brought from various border areas of Mahottari are sent to Kathmandu every day.
Some of the four-wheelers that run from Bardibas to Kathmandu, including Tata-Sumo and night-buses, are being operated with the fuel bought in the black market.
This has led the public vehicles to increase the fares as well.
Meanwhile, after learning about such instances, UDMF leader Sudeep Jha said that their cadres have been checking the tanks of motorcycles passing by to avoid such black marketing.
"If the rider carries over two liters of petrol, we confiscate the extra amount and spill it on the road," he added.
The cadres have been keeping an eye in some of the border areas such as in Matihani, Samsi and Bhithamod.
However, the usage of other covert routes is still going on.
On the other hand, farmers of the district have been complaining about obstruction in their wheat harvest due to lack of fuel.
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