Birat's petrol sold out

Birat managed to sell petrol at Rs 190 per liter through NOC's authorized dealer after the state-owned petroleum monopolist simplified the distribution process. Going against its Distribution Regulation and Petroleum Policy, NOC had last week unlawfully allowed its own distributors/petrol pumps to purchase petrol from Birat Petroleum and sell in the market. As per the decision, four authorized distributors of NOC -- Hama Oil of Swayambhu, Jaya Kumari Petrol Pump of Sorakhutte, New Bhadrakali Petrol Pump of Imadol and Samriddhi Oil Store of Kadaghari had applied to NOC to sell petrol imported by Birat. However, the first three pumps had withdrawn the application after the decision brewed controversy. “We have been informed that Kadaghari-based Samriddhi Oil Store sold all the petrol imported by Birat had imported,” Mukunda Ghimire, NOC Spokesperson, said. “The pump sold around 80,000 liters.” Though Birat Petroleum had imported five tanker-loads of petrol, which is equivalent to 97,000 liters, the company last week sold a tanker of petrol to consumers at Rs 220 per liter. The entire episode has laid bare corruption and irregularities in the government system. Though petrol costs IRs 65.5 (Rs 105.77) per liter in India, Birat Petroleum managed to fleece consumers in broad daylight with the support of top NOC officials.