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Ready to boost oil supply to Nepal: Indian minister
India’s Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said that the Indian government was ready to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per the current demand.Devendra Bhattarai
India’s Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said that the Indian government was ready to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per the current demand.
In a meeting with Nepal’s Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay in Mumbai, Minister Pradhan said the Indian Oil Corporation was ready to make arrangements for additional supply of fuel apart from the regular quota of the Nepal Oil Corporation.
“The Indian government seems ready to prioritise border crossings that have become normal and provide additional fuel to end the crisis,” said Upadhyay, who attended a special “Make in India” function organised in Maharashtra.
During the meeting, Pradhan said the concerned government bodies have been directed to take initiatives to ease supply of fuel, cooking gas and medicines, among other essential commodities.
Upadhyay also drew Pradhan’s attention to the lack of enough supply of gas and fuel even through those borders where there are no obstructions.
On the sidelines, Nepali officials also held discussions regarding NOC’s “negligence and sloppiness” in distributing fuel despite having enough stock. However, the NOC has not communicated to the IOC regarding additional supply of fuel. “The minister informed that Birgunj-Raxaul border will also come into operation in a few days,” Upadhyay said. “The growing political consensus after the constitution amendment has raised hopes that the ongoing obstructions at border points would be removed soon.”
PMO tells NOC to cut prices
Citing continuous drop in crude oil prices in the international market, the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday directed the Nepal Oil Corporation to reduce fuel prices. The PMO also ordered the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) to reduce public transportation transport fares. A Cabinet meeting on Thursday asked the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies to direct the NOC to adjust petro prices as per international rates in accordance with auto pricing mechanism. Likewise, the Cabinet also asked the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to direct the DoTM to slash transportation fares.