The petroleum dealers of Bhairahawa have resorted to protest demanding the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) distribute 40 percent of petroleum products that enter through the Sunauli-Bhairahawa border crossing in Rupandehi district.

Only 25 percent of such fuels entering through the region are allocated in the district for distribution.

The fuel entrepreneurs on Monday staged a sit in protest outside western regional office of NOC in Bhalbari, Bhairahawa. The businessmen argued that 25 percent fuel is insufficient as Butwal and Bhairahawa have the largest number of buses and trucks operating in the country.

Chief of Western Regional Petroleum Dealers’ Association, Prem Neupane, said no petrol pumps associated with the organisation would transport oil from NOC’s regional office until their demands were met.

Petroleum dealers in the region claimed that the 25 percent fuel apportioned for the region is insufficient as Bhalbari depot of NOC has to distribute oil to additional districts like Myagdi, Tanahu, Kaski, and Gorkha, among others, apart from its regular 11 districts.