Fuel crisis eases in Nepal
The petroleum crisis in Nepal eased today as oil tankers began moving through the southern plains bordering India after the end of the 16-day crippling blockade by the Terai-based parties earlier this week.
By PTI |
KATHMANDU: The petroleum crisis in Nepal eased today as oil tankers began moving through the southern plains bordering India after the end of the 16-day crippling blockade by the Terai-based parties earlier this week.
The end to the indefinite shutdown and strikes on Thursday by the United Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of the Terai-based parties, led to increased movement of traffic and resumption of the supply of essentials, including fuels, through southern Nepal.
Landlocked Nepal has no reserves of its own and depends on southern neighbour India for oil, which is trucked to the Himalayan nation through the Terai region.
A senior official of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation said the flow of fuel is getting back to normal after the end of the unrest in the Terai plains.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the agitating leaders signed an agreement on Thursday to provide greater autonomy and decision-making powers to the Terai region, increased representation to the Madhesis community of Indian ethnic origin in the state structures and to provide Rs 1 million compensation to the families of those killed during the agitation in the region.
The agreement also includes provision to increase seats for Madhesis in the constituent assembly from the current 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Details, however, will be worked out after the election.
The Terai-based parties, which had kept away from the poll process, have now started consultations to select their candidates for the election on April 10.
The polls are crucial to the democratic transition in the Himalayan state and will set in motion a process to end the 239-year-old monarchy and frame a new constitution for Nepal.
The end to the indefinite shutdown and strikes on Thursday by the United Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of the Terai-based parties, led to increased movement of traffic and resumption of the supply of essentials, including fuels, through southern Nepal.
Landlocked Nepal has no reserves of its own and depends on southern neighbour India for oil, which is trucked to the Himalayan nation through the Terai region.
A senior official of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation said the flow of fuel is getting back to normal after the end of the unrest in the Terai plains.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the agitating leaders signed an agreement on Thursday to provide greater autonomy and decision-making powers to the Terai region, increased representation to the Madhesis community of Indian ethnic origin in the state structures and to provide Rs 1 million compensation to the families of those killed during the agitation in the region.
The agreement also includes provision to increase seats for Madhesis in the constituent assembly from the current 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Details, however, will be worked out after the election.
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The Terai-based parties, which had kept away from the poll process, have now started consultations to select their candidates for the election on April 10.
The polls are crucial to the democratic transition in the Himalayan state and will set in motion a process to end the 239-year-old monarchy and frame a new constitution for Nepal.
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