Petroleum tanker drivers have withdrawn their agitation. The protest was withdrawn after Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) took a decision to provide the tanker drivers with vaccines against the coronavirus.
In a meeting between representatives of NOC and Nepal Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association the corporation has pledged to provide the COVID-19 vaccines to the drivers from Wednesday. According to the agreement between NOC and the drivers’ association, drivers and helpers of the provincial depot at Thankot will be administered the vaccine based on the identity card issued by Nepal Oil Corporation.
Around 900 drivers and helpers who ferry fuel within the province from the depot will be administered the vaccine. Meanwhile, 1,400 drivers and helpers working at the Amlekhgunj depot will be provided the vaccines there itself.
The tanker drivers, who had launched a protest demanding that the government provide them with COVID-19 vaccines, had halted the transportation of petroleum products in Bagmati Province from June 13. The drivers had stopped the transportation of fuel within the province and also from Barauni and Amlekhgunj.
The Nepal Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association had said that unless and until they are provided with the vaccines they would not transport petroleum products.