Around 100 trucks, including a few petroleum tankers, entered Nepal through Rupaidiha-Jamunaha and Jogbani-Biratnagar border points on Monday.

Although India has eased supply of other goods, it has continued to be stringent in clearing petroleum tankers, Nepali customs officials said.

India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has stopped petroleum tankers at Rupaidiha while allowing a few trucks carrying potatoes and cement to enter Nepal. About one and half dozen trucks carrying potatoes, cements and other goods, and two diesel tankers and two cooking gas bullets entered Nepal, according to the Area Police Office, Jamunaha. Not a single tanker of petroleum product was allowed on Sunday.

“India has been relatively flexible on opening the route for other goods. But they are still stringent as far as petroleum tankers are concerned,” said a police officer at Jamunaha.

During talks between security officials of the two countries on Monday, Nepali officials insisted that since India has announced ending the embargo, goods carriers and petroleum tankers should be allowed to enter Nepal. After the meeting, at around 4:00 pm, two petroleum tankers and two gas bullets were allowed to cross the border.

Banke Chief District Officer Bed Prakas Lekhak said the Indian decision to lift the blockade has not been implemented at the Rupaidiha border point.

Meanwhile, the Biratngar-Jogbani trade route was opened since early morning until 2:00pm. A total of 73 trucks, including 12 oil tankers and 13 LPG bullets, entered Nepal. Only four goods carriers entered after 2:00pm.

After the agitating Madhesi Morcha cadres pressured the Indian side to discontinue the clearance of Nepal-bound goods, it was halted after 2:00 pm.

Meanwhile, six NOC tankers were refilled at IOC’s Silgudhi Terminal Depot on Monday, according to Kamalesh Aryal, chief of NOC for Mechi Zone. “We have been informed 52kl diesel, 32kl petrol and 20kl aviation fuel was given, but the tankers have not arrived Nepal until Monday evening,” said Aryal. Silgudhi Depot Chief GP Singh said they have not received instruction from New Delhi to refill the tankers, but he refilled at his own risk.