Representatives from Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City and Tulsipur-chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry on Sunday padlocked the aviation fuel depot at the Tarigaun Airport.

Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City deputy mayor Syani Chaudhary and Tulsipur-chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Chairman Ram Prasad Chalise jointly padlocked the depot gate after the government tried to take away a fuel bowser from the airport.

The 11,000 litres capacity bowser, that was brought to the airport on May 26, remains unused.

Chaudhary said that the depot was padlocked as the bowser was being taken in an effort to shut down the airport which has been conducting regular operations after years of effort.

Chalise said that his office has also submitted a memorandum to the Nepal Oil Corporation office in Tulsipur urging them not to take away the fuel bowser. “We have, through the memorandum, asked the Nepal Oil Corporation not to remove the fuel bowser,” said Chalise. “We will launch stern protests if our demand is not met.”

Chalise informed that letters have been sent to Nepal Oil Corporation Central Office in Kathmandu, Regional Office, Nepalgunj, District Administration Office, District Police Office, Dang, Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, through the Tulsipur depot.

Nepal Airlines is the only airline operator currently running flights from the Tarigaun Airport. Other airlines have not been able to operate from the airport due to the lack of a fuel depot.

Meanwhile, Bipin Shrestha, chief at the Tulsipur office of Nepal Oil Corporation, said that the oil monopoly’s central office had assured to send another fuel bowser after removing the existing one from the airport.

“We have notified the central office after the locals demanded that the fuel bowser remains at the depot,” said Shrestha.