The Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand (Biplav) has announced nationwide protest programs against the perennial hike in price of petroleum products.
The party has announced six-day nationwide protest programs. In a statement, party general secretary Biplab made public the programs ranging from nationwide protests to Nepal banda (nationwide shutdown).
Traffic movement in Kathmandu as well as several other parts of the country were affected the entire day today because of the party’s protests.
According to the party, it will organize a nationwide torch rally tomorrow, a nationwide demonstration from 1 to 2 pm on November 13, Chakkajam (road blockade) from 10 am to 11 am on November 14, and a whistle rally in the afternoon as well as torch rally in the evening on November 15.
The party has also announced Nepal banda on November 16, the last day of the protest.
The state-owned monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Wednesday increased the price of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 3 per liter and cooking LP gas by Rs 75 per cylinder.
With the fresh hike, the price of petrol per liter has reached Rs 136. Similarly, diesel and kerosene will now cost Rs 119 per liter. With the fresh hike of Rs 75, each cooking gas cylinder will now cost Rs 1,575.
The price of aviation fuel (domestic) has also been hiked by Rs 5. The aviation fuel will now cost Rs 101 per liter.
It was only three weeks ago the NOC had hiked the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 3 per liter. The NOC had also hiked the price of cooking gas by Rs 50 per cylinder citing rise in the price of petroleum products in the international market.
The fuel price hike will most likely result an increase in prices of almost all sectors such as transport, aviation, auto and textiles. As transporters increase their freight rates, food and vegetable prices will correspondingly spike.
School and public buses will begin raising their fares. Costlier diesel, in particular, is a serious issue in Nepal as it will add to transportation and irrigation costs. A direct impact of rising diesel and petrol prices is the increase in what you spend on fuel every month for your daily commute.
