Kathmandu, Jan 10: The 30th anniversary of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) was celebrated amidst a special programme here this afternoon. Speaking as Chief Guest Minister for Supplies Prakash Man Singh said that the corporation has been impressively carrying out its duty of stocking and supplying petroleum products in the nook and corner of the country from the last 3 decades.

‘But a lot must be done to expedite the process and thereby facilitate the consumers’, he said. Talking about the increment on environmental degradation because of the increase in vehicular traffic, Minister Singh said that the corporation must promote lead-free petrol while at the same time focus on expanding stocking capacity. Demanding urgency in-the- construction of the Raxaul-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline, Minister Singh also emphasized the need of on the job training of the employees of the corporation.

Secretary at the Ministry of Supplies, Padma Kumar Acharya said that since petroleum is an essential item for all consumers, employees must never even think of organising strikes or any such type of agitation that will unnecessary create a rift between the people and the government.

Hari Om Dhoj, Deputy General Manager of NOC opined that the recent price hike of certain petroleum products was more due to international price hike than due to our own plans.

Yuba Raj Sharma, Executive Director said that currently the corporation has the capacity of storing 26,940 kilo litre of oil in its storage tanks situated in Kathmandu, Thankot and Amlekhgunj.