Land issue hinders NOC plan to build fuel storage facility

Kathmandu - No progress has been there yet in regard with the Nepal Oil Corporation’s plan to undertake the provincial fuel storage project in Karnali. Though the project was featured in the federal government’s policy and programmes and in the budget, the process is yet to be begun in lack of suitable land to build the structure.

The NOC last fiscal year proposed to build the storage facility on 20 bigha of land registered in the name of Nepal Trust at Birendranagar of Surkhet. NOC State Office Deepak Ghimire said, "the proposed land does not seem geographically appropriate for the project as it is not plain, lies along the river bank and is under the risk of soil erosion and landslide.

" The main issue behind a delay in implementing the project is land, as at least 10 to 20 bigha of land is required for it. We are searching for land around the Chhinchu area so as to make supplies to Nepalgunj as well in the future, Ghimire said.