Online Khabar

Kathmandu, November 25. India appears bent on snuffing out supply of cooking gas to Nepal, if recent data on arrival of gas bullets from border points is anything to go by.

In view of disturbances in the vital Raxaul customs, which accounts for around 70 per cent of Indian imports to Nepal, India had pledged to reroute gas bullets and send them to Nepal using other border points. But the relevant data indicate India is not keeping its word.

Last week, for example, only six gas bullets entered Nepal through Bhairahawa. Through Kakadvitta customs in Jhapa, only a few gas bullets have entered Nepal, Nepal Oil Corporation said. This bleak gas supply scenario will affect distribution of cooking gas in main cities, it said.

Most of the gas bullets entering Nepal through Bhairahawa end up in major cities including Kathmandu.

Last week, only six gas bullets entered Nepal via Bhairahawa. Through Kakadvitta, only a few gas bullets have entered Nepal of late, Nepal Oil Corporation said. This bleak gas supply scenario will affect distribution of cooking gas in main cities.

Currently, supplies are pushing gas cylinders, filled from gas bullets that had arrived before Tihar, into the market.

“Every three days,2-4 gas bullets are entering Nepal from India. Given this scenario, it will be very difficult to distribute gas,” NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire told Online Khabar.

According to NOC, 80 gas cylinders, including 55 brought from Raxaul through rerouting, remain stuck at Sunauli, across Bhairahawa. For months, 208 gas bullets have remained stuck in Raxaul, while in Jogbani 11 gas bullets remain stuck. In other customs too, a handful of gas bullets have been awaiting an all-clear from competent authorities to enter Nepal.