Much-needed fuel from China arrives in Nepal
The first tankers carrying gasoline from China have arrived in Nepal after India restricted fuel convoys as a result of political protests in the Himalayan nation.
"Three tankers carrying 9,000 litres of gasoline each entered Nepal Saturday night," Shiv Ram Gelal, chief government administrator for the district, said.
Another nine left for China yesterday and were expected to return with fuel later in the day, Gelal said.
Although the tankers have the capacity to carry 12,000 litres of gasoline each, they were only filled with 9,000 litres because of road conditions in the mountainous terrain, he added.
China is giving Nepal 1.3 million litres of gasoline to help it deal with a severe fuel crisis caused by an Indian blockade.
Nepal also entered into an unprecedented agreement with China last week for the commercial import of a third of Nepal's fuel demand, ending more than four decades of supply monopoly by India, after supplies from the country did not improve despite repeated diplomatic efforts.
Despite sporadic instances of some fuel trickling into Nepal, India has effectively blockaded the Himalayan nation since September 20 leading to crippling shortages of gasoline, diesel, cooking gas, and aviation fuel.
The blockade started when Nepal adopted a new constitution, ignoring India's wishes that the adoption be postponed to address the demands of protesting Madhesi people who have cultural, linguistic and social ties with India.
India denies it has blockaded Nepal and has blamed anti-constitution protests by Madhesis for the obstruction.
Nepal says India is supporting the Indian-origin Madhesis, who are demanding mainly that the entire stretch of flatland from east to west of Nepal be part of two provinces, in the seven-province federal model ensured by the new constitution.
Major political parties are against such provincial demarcation and want hills and mountains to have access to border crossings with India.
