KATHMANDU: Department of Commerce and Supplies Management (DoCSM) is all set to mobilise four inspection teams in areas where gas bottlers will distribute cooking gas.
The DoCSM move comes after many consumers failed to get LPG cylinders during NOC’s distribution on Thursday and Saturday, despite the state-owned oil monopoly’s commitment to maintain smooth supply.
“Our teams will monitor any possible anomalies in LPG distribution,” said DoCSM Director Hari Narayan Belbase.
He said the department would take clarification immediately from gas bottlers if they fail to supply gas to the depots. “We will also see if the depots sell excess cylinders to the commercial sector,” he said.
Under the direction of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the gas plants will distribute liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from their depots in Maharajgunj, Budhanilkantha, Gongabu, Lazimpat, Durbarmarg, Baluwatar, Bishalnagar, Bhatbhateni and Dhumbarahi.
NOC Spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire said 25 bottling companies will distribute 15,000 LPG cylinders. “To address consumers’ complaints, we have set up a “control room” at NOC which can be contacted at 01-4262586,” he said.
Following its failure to distribute LPG from National Trading, NOC has arranged gas distribution through bottling plants’ depots in several places of the Kathmandu Valley for the last one week.
However, consumers have been complaining that they have not been able to get the cylinders.
Four LPG bottlers did not sell their products, and customers of eight bottlers had to return empty-handed.
