KATHMANDU: LPG is still hard to get in the Kathmandu valley despite the direct distribution of the cooking gas in “specific areas” by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) for the benefit of city dwellers, dealers and consumers said.
The state-owned oil monopoly had started selling the essential fuel directly to consumers in various locations in coordination with gas retailers. However, the plan has not succeeded with many consumers complaining of being forced to return empty-handed.
Gyanu Adhikari, a local from Maharajgunj, said he was not able to buy LPG from NOC’s outlet despite staying in line for the whole day. On Monday, NOC was selling LPG from depots in Maharajgunj, Budhanilkantha, Gongabu, Lazimpat, Durbar Marg, Baluwatar, Bishalnagar, Bhat Bhateni and Dhumbarahi.
Ram Kumar Khadka, proprietor of Khadka Gas Depot in Maharajgunj, said that they were sold out due to inadequate supplies from their dealers. “We received 350 cylinders of LPG, 140 each from Nepal Gas and Om Gas and 70 from Narayani Gas, but they were inadequate to fulfil the demand,” he said.
However, NOC maintained that the distribution plan had been effective. Company Spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire said that they had instantly increased the supply to areas from where there were complaints.
NOC has set up a control room at its headquarters to address public grievances. According to him, bottlers sold 26,000 cylinders in the specified areas.
