Locals demand urgent relocation of Nepal Oil Corporation’s Dhangadhi depot amid dense settlement
Dhangadhi: Residents of Dhangadhi are preparing a pressure-based movement demanding the immediate relocation of the Nepal Oil Corporation’s Sudurpaschim Provincial Depot, situated in the middle of a densely populated area.
Although plans have been underway for the depot’s relocation to Chatakpur, Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-3 for the past two years, locals have grown frustrated with the lack of progress and are organizing a phased agitation starting next week under the leadership of the Shubhava Toll Development Organization. A few days ago, they drew the attention of the depot chief to address community concerns.
Dirgharaj Ojha, Chairman of the Toll Development Organization, highlighted that the depot’s location within a dense settlement has raised security concerns and urged the corporation to expedite its relocation. The Shubhava Toll area comprises 87 households with over 400 residents. Ojha said, “The relocation process has been in progress for two years, but there has been no result. We are moving forward with the agitation program to ensure residents can live and conduct business safely.”
Locals, including Chatakpur resident Dharam Singh, expressed fear for their safety due to the depot’s proximity, citing potential human and material losses. Large petroleum storage tanks nearby make residents hesitant to even light fires during fuel loading and unloading. Ojha recalled that during last Tihar, the community had to request people not to burst fireworks near the depot.
The area around the depot, which was a forest a few years ago, has now become a dense settlement. Thousands of vehicles pass daily along the Dhangadhi–Attariya road, which is surrounded by hospitals, schools, and commercial buildings. Past incidents, such as a furniture factory fire east of the depot, have heightened local concerns.
Mayor Gopi Hamal confirmed that the sub-metropolitan city has repeatedly requested the corporation to relocate the depot to a safer location. Tirtharaj Phulara, principal of Dhangadhi Pragya Sadan, a school near the depot with over 400 students, said the relocation plan is welcome and should be implemented as soon as possible.
The Corporation had earlier planned relocation after pressure from stakeholders. Although the National Housing Company proposed selling land in Punarbas Municipality-3 and Kanchanpur, there were complications with land acquisition. Pradeep Kumar Yadav, head of the Storage Capacity Enhancement Project, led land identification, recommending approximately 20 bighas six kilometers east of Attariya Chowk along the East-West Highway for the depot.
Executive Director Dr. Chandika Prasad Bhatta confirmed that land search is ongoing, stating, “Suitable land is being identified in four to five locations, and the relocation process will proceed transparently and economically once land is acquired.”
Jiyalal Acharya, Senior Vice President of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association, Sudurpaschim Province Committee, noted that the depot’s low loading capacity hampers tanker filling and urged the Corporation to focus on expanding storage and relocating the depot. Haridatta Joshi, Chief of the Sudurpaschim Province Office of the Corporation, added that the depot’s limited land constrains daily operations and capacity expansion.
The government plans to build petroleum storage facilities in each province to meet at least 90 days of demand. Currently, the Dhangadhi depot, spread over one bigha and eight katthas, houses two vertical diesel tanks of 760 kiloliters and one underground tank of 70 kiloliters, supplying petroleum products to Kailali, Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Darchula, Bajhang, Doti, Achham, and Bajura districts. Established in 2037 BS, the depot operates on a smaller area than other provincial depots, selling 100 kiloliters of petrol, 300 kiloliters of diesel, and a small quantity of kerosene daily. Fuel is imported from the Indian Oil Corporation depot in Banthara, India, via the Gaurifanta border crossing in Kailali.