Political parties, professional groups and the students have slammed the government decision to allow Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to increase the price of petroleum products, demanding that the government immediately withdraw its ‘anti-people’ decision.
They said the ‘illogical’ decision would put extra economic burden to the consumers who have already witnessed periodic price hikes in petroleum products.
Issuing separate statements on Saturday, the Nepali Congress, CPN (Marxist Leninist), CPN-UML-affiliated Democratic National Youth Association and All Nepal National Free Students Union and Nepal Teachers Union denounced the increase in petroleum prices and warned of launching strong protest against the decision.
Students affiliated to the seven-party alliance staged protest rallies in front of various campuses in Kathmandu this afternoon against the fuel price hike.
Likewise, Civil Servants Association and Nepal Taxi Drivers Association also flayed the price hike asked the concerned authority to withdrawal the decision.
Following permission from the government, the NOC on Friday announced increase in the fuel price according to which price of diesel has been fixed at Rs 55 per litre—a hike of Rs 7, price of kerosene has been fixed at 46 per litre—a hike of Rs 6 while retail price of petrol has gone up by one rupee per litre.
Reports said NOC has allowed private dealers to fix the price of petroleum products sold from outlets.
According to the NOC, the price has been increased in order to adjust the domestic price with that in the international market. Spokesman of the NOC, Sushil Bhattarai, said NOC would still be incurring a loss of Rs 300 million per month even after the latest price hike—down from Rs 570 million loss per month.