Government removes quota system in fuel supply

People at a queue in petrol station of Kathmandu.

Kathmandu / February 22: The government has removed the quota system that was in practice for around the past five months, in the distribution of fuel to two-wheelers and four wheelers.

Currently, two-wheelers were getting five liters and four-wheelers 15 liters at a single time. However, this provision has been discontinued from Monday.

At a press meet organised by the Ministry of Supplies Monday, Supplies Minister Ganeshman Pun said though Indian Oil Corporation, the sole fuel supplier to the country, is yet to allocate fuel in full-fledged motion, the government decided to discontinue the quota system for the convenience of consumers.

Besides, a full cylinder of cooking gas will be distributed onwards. With the severe fuel crisis seen with the border obstructions in its import from India, consumers were getting a half-cylinder (7.1 kgs) of cooking gas.

Meanwhile, more fuel was distributed in the Kathmandu Valley Monday than the usual time before. A total of 450,000 liters of diesel (against 350,000 liters in normal days) and 500,000 liters of petrol (against 450,000 liters of usual time) was distributed Monday.

Besides, the Ministry is to continue the market monitoring in the days ahead as before to discourage black market and control untoward market irregularities.

Talking about the government plan for importing fuel from China, Minister Pun said the both countries are like to strike a deal towards this end in the near future.

Spokesperson of the Nepal Oil Corporation, the state monopoly fuel supplier, Mukundra Ghimire said depot improvement, installation of new depots in new locations including in mid- hilly highway are the further plans of the Corporation. RSS