Black marketing suspected amid cooking gas shortage in Surkhet

By Rajani Yogi, Surkhet, July 26: According to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), Surkhet Office, there is an adequate supply of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas in the district. However, consumers say they are unable to obtain even a single cylinder despite waiting in queues for hours.

Long queues have been seen outside LP gas retailers in Birendranagar over the past few days.

Ramesh Thapa of Birendranagar Municipality-3 said he had to queue from 2:00 a.m. on Friday carrying an empty gas cylinder. He said he had waited all day on Thursday but returned home empty-handed after failing to get a cylinder. On Friday, he managed to obtain one only after a long wait.

Although the Nepal Oil Corporation claims that supplies are sufficient, consumers continue to struggle to purchase cooking gas, raising suspicions of black marketing in Surkhet. Several consumers also reported paying more than the government-fixed retail price, further fuelling concerns.

Shobha Dhakal of Birendranagar-12 said she paid Rs. 2,500 for a gas cylinder that should have cost Rs. 2,060. She alleged that the retailer charged the higher amount claiming the price had increased.

The official retail price of a 14.2-kg LP gas cylinder is Rs. 2,060. However, consumers complained that they had been forced to pay between Rs. 2,400 and Rs. 2,500.

While people have been compelled to queue overnight to secure a cylinder, others have been able to purchase gas only by paying inflated prices. Consumers say the concerned authorities have failed to adequately monitor, inspect and control the market.

Following public pressure, monitoring inspections were carried out at gas retailers on Friday.

A joint team from the District Administration Office, District Police Office and the Nepal Oil Corporation, Surkhet, inspected LP gas dealers, depots and distribution outlets.

Assistant Chief District Officer Dil Bahadur Karki said the inspection was conducted after complaints that an artificial shortage of LP gas had been created in the market. The team examined supply, stock levels and distribution practices.

Meanwhile, the NOC Surkhet Office maintained that there was no shortage of cooking gas.

The corporation said LP gas was being continuously imported from India in sufficient quantities and that daily imports had been increased to meet market demand.

According to the corporation, fears of a possible shortage have prompted consumers to stockpile more gas than they actually need.

“We sincerely request all consumers to purchase gas only from authorised dealers and to refrain from unnecessary stockpiling,” the corporation said in a public appeal.

It also urged consumers to report any cases of overcharging, refusal to sell despite available stock or unauthorised hoarding to the local administration or the Nepal Oil Corporation.

According to the corporation, a “one person, one cylinder” policy has been enforced from Friday. Under the arrangement, a total of 2,922 gas cylinders of various brands have been made available for sale through authorised dealers.

Deepak Kumar Ghimire, chief of the Nepal Oil Corporation, Surkhet Office, said 22,000 gas cylinders were supplied to Surkhet in (mid-March-mid-April) followed by 26,000 in (mid-April-mid-May), 32,000 in (mid-May-mid-June) and 38,878 in (mid-June-mid-July).

He urged consumers not to panic or purchase gas at inflated prices.