
Kathmandu — The Nepal Oil Corporation’s Far-Western Provincial Office in Dhangadhi is set to relocate its fuel depot due to safety concerns. The current depot, deemed highly risky, is being moved to Kailali. Established in 1980 to serve just four vehicles, the Dhangadhi depot is now operating far beyond safety standards.
Situated on just 1 bigha and 8 kattha of land, the Dhangadhi depot has outgrown its capacity and no longer meets safety regulations. The Nepal Oil Corporation has emphasized that relocating the depot is crucial, as it is located near residential areas.
“The Dhangadhi depot has been operating beyond safety standards. There is no disagreement about the need to relocate it, and discussions have been ongoing for the past 5–7 years,” said Pradeep Kumar Yadav, head of the Storage Capacity Enhancement Project, at a press conference held at the Sinamangal Aviation Fuel Depot in Kathmandu on Wednesday. He added, “After extensive efforts, land has been secured in Godavari Municipality of Kailali.”
The new location will serve the nine districts of the Far West more effectively. Following concerns from the public about the depot’s proximity to residential areas, the corporation initially requested 22 bighas of land out of 74 bighas owned by the National Housing Company in Rewas-3 and 6 of Kanchanpur district. However, a land dispute between the municipality and the company prevented the relocation there. After further assessment, the land in Attariya, Kailali, was found to be the most suitable option.
“The depot in Dhangadhi supplies nine districts, so we had to search for land in proximity to these areas, while ensuring it was also far enough from the border. After evaluating all potential sites, Attariya in Kailali emerged as the best option,” Yadav explained. “The land acquisition process will follow the Land Acquisition Act.” The current depot was originally designed to handle a maximum of four vehicles per day.
The Dhangadhi depot covers 1 bigha and 8 kattha of land and has a total capacity of only 2,890 kiloliters. This includes 830 kiloliters of petrol, 1,590 kiloliters of diesel, 70 kiloliters of kerosene, and a 400-kiloliter water tank. As demand continues to rise, the depot’s limited capacity has become insufficient, especially with residential settlements encroaching nearby.
“The depot is surrounded by a dense settlement, and it is no longer able to meet commercial demand, which is why it is being moved to Attariya, Kailali,” Yadav added. The new location in Godawari Municipality-8, Kailali, is situated along the East-West Highway, and its relocation has been driven by public safety concerns. Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has also directed the corporation to relocate the depot.
Source: Kantipur