Fuel tanker drivers have called off their strike after the government agreed to vaccinate them against COVID-19.
After staging the strike for two days on Sunday and Monday, the Nepal Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (NPTDA) agreed to resume their service after reaching an agreement with the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) that the latter would gradually vaccinate the drivers and co-drivers, said Surendra Kumar Paudel, managing director of the NOC.
The talks held among the NOC, Federation of Nepal Truck Tanker and Transport Entrepreneurs and NPTDA ended agreeing to vaccinate the tanker drivers and co-drives at the earliest.
The association agreed to continue the transportation of fuel from today itself after the NOC assured to vaccinate the drivers and other staffers gradually, said Paudel.
Transportation of fuel from Amalekhganj to Kathmandu was suspended from Sunday because of the strike of the tanker drivers.
As per the agreement, the government will vaccinate 2,400 drivers and co-drivers in the first phase and will gradually vaccinate others. Around 4,800 drivers and co-drivers are working in fuel transportation business.
Paudel said that the Ministry of Health and Population has assured the NOC to provide vaccines to those who are at the forefront of supplying essential goods and services.
“We are lobbying with the government’s concerned authorities to vaccinate those who are in the forefront. However, it is not possible to vaccinate all working in fuel supply sector for now,” he said.
Earlier, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies had urged the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre CCMC) to provide vaccines to those who are at the forefront of supplying essential goods and services.
The Ministry has requested the CCMC to provide 157,596 doses of vaccine for those engaged in supplying petroleum products.
The Ministry has demanded 10,346 vaccines for the Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ National Association, 140,000 for the Federation of Nepal Truck Tanker and Transport Entrepreneurs, Nepal and 4,600 vaccines for the Federation of Gas Dealers’ Association Nepal.
Similarly, the Ministry has requested the CCMC to provide 1,000 vaccines for the staff of the Nepal Oil Corporation, 150 for Salt Trading Corporation and 15,000 for the Nepal Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ Association.
Source : THE RISING NEPAL,
