Kathmandu, March 17: The government has decided that no petroleum dealer except the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation would now be allowed to import and supply petroleum products in the country.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers took this decision on Thursday, said Minister for Information and Communications and Spokesperson of the government, Sherdhan Rai.

Earlier, the Public Account Committee of the Legislature Parliament had directed Birat Petroleum to stop the sale of petroleum products. The Birat Petroleum was selling a liter of petrol (Euro 4) at Rs 133 though the Nepal Oil Corporation was selling it at Rs 99.

Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai informed that the Cabinet meeting also decided to make Prime Minister KP Oli's China visit very successful. The government would devote the coming days for the homework on it.

According to him, the meeting also approved that the country receive Rs 22.74 billion loan provided by the Exim Bank of China for the construction of the Pokhara International Airport. Similarly, it was decided to accept some Rs 490 million grants to be provided by the Chinese People's Liberation Army to the Nepal Army.

The meeting also decided to issue directives to the concerned authorities and government bodies to ferry food stuffs in various five districts of Karnali zone and Bajura of Seti zone at the earliest. These districts have been reeling under food crisis for sometime owing to drought. RSS