Karnali, Aug 4: Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Mangal Bahadur Shahi, has directed the bodies concerned to conduct a strict market monitoring to ascertain whether cooking gas was in a short supply.
During a discussion held at his office on Monday, CM Shahi reminded the government officials, security agencies and business persons that daily livelihood of the common people should not be disturbed for lack of cooking gas. The sensitive issues must not be handled carelessly, he added.
CM Shahi directed the security agencies and market monitoring team to immediately reach the market places and initiate legal actions against anyone who have involved in creating artificial shortage. Those creating artificial shortage with hoarding of cooking gas or charging higher prices to consumers must not be spared, he warned.
Shahi informed that the province government had become serious towards the reported shortage of gas in Birendranagar and vicinity for the past few days. Shahi also discussed how the relief could be provided to consumers.
The business persons attending the discussion expressed commitment to making supply of cooking gas and other essentials further transparent and systematic.
On the occasion, chief of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in Surkhet, Dipak Ghimire, informed that 33,440 cylinders of cooking gas were sold and distributed in Surkhet and surrounding markets in the last 17 days alone.
NOC and the business persons stated that there was no reduction in the quantity of gas imported from India, which is sent to the market. The supply is also normal, they argued. It was informed that there were technical and psychological reasons behind consumers hurrying up for grabbing cooking gas cylinders.
The meeting attendants also argued that the decision by the government to re-distribute full cylinders (14.2 kg) instead of the half-cylinder (7.1 kg) earlier has suddenly created pressure on the distribution system. Due to rumours and fears of a possible gas shortage, the people are hurried to exchange all empty cylinders at once and hoard more than necessary, which may be the reason behind artificial shortage.
The meeting was attended by high-level security officials in the province, chief of Nepal Oil Corporation and gas dealers.