Petrol workers protest saying that the vaccine is not available

KATHMANDU: JUNE 15  – There is a shortage of petroleum products in the Kathmandu Valley as workers including the Nepal Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ Union have been agitating for the provision of vaccine against Corona.

Most petrol pumps were closed on Tuesday due to non-transportation of petroleum products. Workers, including drivers, have been agitating saying that vaccine is not available when they repeatedly demand it from the concerned bodies. They have stopped transporting since Sunday and chanted slogans at the Oil Corporation’s Thankot depot on Tuesday. They said they wanted to be vaccinated against Corona as soon as possible. Shiva Pokharel, president of the All Nepal Petroleum Workers’ Union, said that they were forced to agitate as their demands were not met despite repeated calls to the concerned bodies.

Similarly, Ishwor Lama, president of the Nepal Petroleum Workers’ Union, said that Barauni, Amlekhganj area and internal transportation has been suspended since Sunday. He also accused the government of being reluctant to vaccinate those working in the emergency sector. He said that they were forced to protest as their health was at risk.

According to the Oil Corporation’s Bagmati Provincial Depot, Thankot, the supply across the state was also affected on Tuesday due to the obstruction of transporters. There are 176 private petrol pumps in operation in three districts of Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur).

Earlier, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had sent a letter to the Covid Crisis Management Center demanding that vaccines be provided to entrepreneurs providing essential goods and services.