NOC supplied just 200 kiloliters (KL) of petrol in the capital on Friday, far less than the normal demand of around 300 KL.[break]
“Half of the supply was issued to the nine institutional pumps run by Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Sajha, whereas over 100 private dealers reveived mere 100 KL,” Saroj Pandey, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association (NPDA), told Republica.
Concerned officials said the supply was curtailed in a bid to manage supplies and make sure that no unscrupulous people get hold of the highly inflammable product.
“The step was taken mainly after Nepal Police seized a substantial volume of petrol, which is suspected to be meant for making petrol bomb by the Maoist protests, from a hotel,” said a source.
NOC spokesperson Mukunda Dhungel, however, denied short-supply of the fuel having any linkage with the incident. “We issued more petrol to institutional pumps, considering the fact that they will continue the sales even during the agitation. Private dealers will stop distribution during agitation,” he argued.
Dealers, on the other hand, said NOC reduced their supply volume probably because they the state-owned fuel monopolist has little stock to sell.
Dhungel maintained that NOC has well over 950 KL of petrol in stock at Thankot depot. He added that NOC pumped out lesser fuel in the market also as a part of its strategy to maintain a sound stock for security and emergency reasons.
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