KATHMANDU, Nepal–The government has partially rolled back the recent price hike in fuel after the decision drew widespread criticism.
“The government has slashed the price of petroleum products by more than 50 percent on the revised rates, except on aviation fuel”, said Minister for Forests Mahesh Acharya in the House meeting. The latest revision means petrol will now cost Rs 134.50 per litre, while diesel and kerosene will cost Rs 105.50 per litre each.
Nevertheless, the price of aviation turbine fuel has remained unchanged. The government has asked the agitating student unions to withdraw all their protest programmes.
Fifteen different student unions had called a general strike in the Capital Kathmandu on Wednesday protesting the government to hike fuel’s price.
The state monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation had earlier this week increased the petrol price by Rs 10 per liter, diesel and kerosene by Rs 6 per liter each, aviation fuel by Rs 6 per litre for domestic airlines and $100 per kilolitre for international carriers.