Petroleum workers halt fuel distribution

KATHMANDU, Dec 21 :

Customers were hit hard on Sunday till 4 pm after the Petroleum Workers Union halted fuel supply at the stations demanding release of its members, who were arrested for overcharging customers even after the Nepal Oil Corporation slashed petroleum prices.

A monitoring team of the Department of Commerce arrested two employees at Sita Care, a Kalimati-based petrol pump, for overcharging customers on Friday evening.

Customers can be seen making beeline at fuel stations run by the Nepal Army and the Nepal Police. After talks with the union, DoC decided to release Binod Raj Ghimire and Gobinda Bhattarai who were arrested.

Petroleum workers also halted delivery of the petrol from the Thankot depots and warned of shutting down all petrol pumps.

On Friday, Nepal Oil Corporation had slashed petrol price by Rs 7 but employees at Sita Care at Kalimati were overcharging customers even in the evening. Petrol pumps often refrain from placing order at NoC while preparations are on to reduce or hike petrol prices .

Source: Republica