India not pouring oil on Nepal’s troubled waters

Online Khabar

Kathmandu, October 5 . Even after announcing that it had eased the blockade, India did not provide petroleum products to Nepali oil tankers on Sunday. Nepali officials thought India did not give oil because Sunday is a holiday in India.

On Monday, Indian government offices opened, but the oil blockade continued. Indian Oil Corporation reiterated on Monday it will provide oil to only 10 per cent Nepali tankers that have lined up before IOC depots.

Nepal Oil Corporation’s executive director Gopal Bahadur Khadka told Online Khabar: IOC is still unwilling to supply adequate amount of oil to Nepal.

“On Monday, around 110 oil tankers have arrived at three designated IOC depots. But India says it will provide oil to only nine tankers.” NOC has refused such a meagre amount of oil, he said.

A handful of oil tankers entered Nepal from India on Monday. These tankers had loaded oil before the blockade, but had not got customs clearance earlier. Nepali customs officials say Indian customs bar Nepali oil tankers from heading towards Nepal on one pretext or the other.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s most crucial trade point, Birgunj customs, remained shut on Monday as well, with United Democratic Madheshi Front activists continuing their sit-in there.

Through Rani customs in Biratnagar, 31 carriers, including two oil tankers, one bullet gas and trucks carrying fruits and vegetables entered Nepal,customs chief Krishna Bahadur Basnet said.

More vehicles entered Nepal on Monday, compared to Sunday, Basnet informed.

Police had removed UDMF cadres stationed to obstruct the supply line, on Sunday. On Monday, there were no UDMF cadres at the site.

As of 10 am on Monday, two trucks carrying goats and a pickup carrying fruits entered Nepal through Bhairahawa customs.

Not a single vehicle has entered Nepal through Jamunaha customs in Nepalgunj. Altogether 150 vehicles remain stranded close to the point, waiting for an all-clear to enter Nepal.