The government has imposed a rationing system for petrol and diesel, effective from Monday as fuel shortage has gripped the country following Indian blockade on essential supplies to Nepal.

With the new scheme in place, fuel distribution will be limited to types of vehicles: owner of a two-wheeler will be provided three litres of petrol per week while a private four-wheeler will get 10 litres per week.

Deepak Baral, spokesperson at the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), said public vehicles can buy up to 30 litres every alternate day. “A taxi can purchase 10 litres, a bus 30 litres, and micro- and mini-buses 20 litres each.” Buses belonging to schools or colleges can access 20 litres every alternate day.

Petrol stations have been instructed to keep records to avoid duplication. “Dealers will have to indicate the quantity of fuel on the vehicle registration book,” Baral said.

The provision will be implemented on a trial basis from Monday until Wednesday and that it will be reviewed if the supply situation changes.

The government was forced to take the decision as the stock of petroleum with the NOC is depleting. On a normal day, Nepal imported 200 tankers of petroleum products. Since Tuesday, only a handful of tankers have been released from the Indian side showing security concerns.

Shishir Dhungana, director general at the Department of Customs, said only seven tankers of petroleum products entered Nepal on Sunday. “These include six tankers from Nepalgunj and one from Bhairahawa customs,” he said.

Starting Sunday, the government has also enforced the odd-even number system in all types of vehicles, except ones used for essential goods supply and those used by security forces and monitoring units of the government. Vehicles having odd plate number can ply on the odd Nepali date while those with even plate number can operate on the even date.

Meanwhile, the NOC has stopped supplying fuel to private petrol pumps since Friday. However, it has been supplying petroleum products to government-run pumps and the ones operated by security forces.

Vehicles    Fuel quota

Motorcycle    3l per week

Private car    10l per week

Taxi    10l every alternate day

Bus    30l every alternate day

Micro/Mini bus    20l every alternate day

School/college bus    20l every alternate day