KATHMANDU: Transportation of petroleum has been disrupted in Bagmati Province after tanker drivers resorted to agitation demanding vaccination against the coronavirus.
At the call of the Nepal Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ Association, transportation of petroleum from the association’s Bagmati provincial depot office in Thankot to districts and petrol pumps has been halted since Sunday. Transportation of petroleum from Amalekhgunj depot and Barauni to the provincial depot in Thankot has also not taken place due to the driver’s agitation.
Ishwar Lama, president of the association, said they resorted to agitation due to the depot’s apathy in managing vaccines to tanker drivers and their families. “One driver died of COVID infection in Amalekhgunj. Many others are infected. The depot has not shown concern towards our safety and security,” said Lama.
Abhishek Thakur, chief of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Bagmati provincial depot, said efforts are underway to resume petroleum transport. “Tanker drivers are saying they are at risk and have demanded vaccines. Transportation of petrol to petrol pumps has halted since Sunday morning,” he said.
About 120 tankers, out of about 500 tankers under the provincial depot, were operating daily in shifts during the prohibitory period. Thakur said that the tanker drivers’ request to the depot was forwarded to NOC head office and the Ministry of Health but vaccines are yet to be managed as the government doesn’t have vaccines.
NOC Spokesperson Binit Mani Upadhyaya said the corporation took initiative to provide vaccines to tanker drivers but there was no availability of vaccines.
“The corporation has taken the initiative. The lack of vaccines has rattled the country. However, essential services should not be stopped due to this very reason,” said Spokesperson Upadhyay.
NOC high-ranking officials are holding talks with tanker drives to end their agitation.
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