Nepal Petroleum Tankers Operators Federation has been staging protest against the corporation´s move of backtracking from its decision of adding 60 tankers to ferry fuel on Kathmandu-Raxaul route.[break]
Tanker operators have brought the process of dispatching petroleum products from Raxaul depot -- the largest supplier depot for Nepal -- to a grinding halt from Tuesday, sparking acute shortage of petroleum products across the country. The fresh protest came four days after the petroleum tanker operators in the central region withdrew their strike after NOC revoked its decision of adding 60 new tankers on the Kathmandu-Raxaul route.
NOC officials, however, did not elaborate on how it plans to manage some 138 tankers added on the Barauni-Amlekhgunj route. NOC had added the tankers about a year ago to ferry fuel from Indian Oil Corporation´s Barauni refinery amid acute fuel shortage in the country.
However, a high-level commission formed to suggest measures to bring about reforms in NOC had recently asked the corporation to stop importing fuel from Barauni as it inflicts additional cost to the state-owned petroleum monopolist.
“NOC hasn´t called us for negotiation. We will be compelled to announce nationwide protest from Friday if NOC withdraw its decision to revoke its decision of adding new tankers on Raxaul-Kathmandu route,” said Biswo Raj Aryal, general secretary of the federation, said.
On Wednesday, NOC held talks with officials of CRTOA, which is not on strike.
NOC Chief Digambar Jha said he has called agitating tanker operators for talks on Thursday. “The decision of adding new tankers will not be withdrawn,” he added.
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