KATHMANDU: Ongoing curfew and prohibitory orders enforced after Monday’s Gen Z protest and subsequent vandalism and arson on government offices and private business establishments have raised concerns among the general public about potential shortages of daily essential goods.
Most districts are enforcing prohibitory orders during daytime and curfews at night. This has affected movement of vehicles across the country, disrupting the supply chain of essential goods. Many customs offices have remained closed since Tuesday, while cargo vehicles have being stopped on the route due to prohibitory orders.
With petroleum import stalled for past three days, rumors of shortages of cooking gas have started circulating in the market. There are also concerns about possible shortages of diesel and petrol due to a lack of imports.
The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has said that supply interruption of two-three days will not cause fuel shortages.
However, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has assured that supply interruption of two-three days will not cause fuel shortages. Jagdishchand Yadav, head of the NOC Regional Office in Thankot, said there will not be shortage of petroleum products in the Kathmandu Valley. “Our existing stock will last for a week. Likewise, a total of 228 tankers are already bringing supplies from our depot in Amlekhgunj. There will be no problem,” he told MeroAuto.
According to Yadav, the Thankot depot has 3,400 kiloliters of petrol and 5,800 kiloliters of diesel in stock. “This stock can meet demand of petrol for about five days and of diesel for 9-10 days,” he added. “Additionally, 119 petrol tankers and 109 diesel tankers have been loaded from Amlekhgunj. Some of them are on the way to Hetauda, Chitwan and other locations. They will arrive in Kathmandu soon.”
Yadav said vehicles carrying essential supplies, including petroleum products, are allowed to operate even during prohibitory orders and curfews.
Fuel stations in the Kathmandu Valley resumed distribution of petrol and diesel from Thursday.
“We received no order on Wednesday. But 15 tankers arrived on Thursday and were dispatched subsequently,” Yadav said. “We are receiving orders on Friday as well,” he added.
