NOC officials capitalizing from fuel crisis

Kathmandu December 31- At a time when the deepening fuel crisis has adversely affected all aspects of normal life, senior management staff members of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) seem bent on capitalising on the calamitous situation.

Instead of managing proper distribution of available fuel, NOC Managing Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka recently issued an internal circular to NOC staff, particularly the depot chiefs, to not disclose the stock position of fuel. This move is sure to raise brows because with the flow of vehicles loaded with fuel from India (except from Birgunj) rising in recent weeks, NOC’s stock has also improved.

It is reported that NOC — the state-owned petroleum supply monopoly — has over 2,500 kilolitres of petrol and 20,000 kl diesel in stock across the country at present.

“NOC Chief Khadka has also disallowed officials from extending refilling facility to private vehicles any time soon,” a high-level source at NOC stated.

Moreover, the plans to establish proper mechanism for distribution, such as text message queue system and others have been stalled for no apparent reason.