Issuing a statement on Thursday, Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, requested the government to provide security at all distribution centers. The association took the decision after an unidentified group, on Tuesday, vandalized the Chalnakhel-based gas depot of Everest Gas and attacked some staffers of the depot.
It has threatened to stop supplying LP gas in the market if the state continued to turn blind eye to such acts of hooliganism.
“At a time when are trying hard to normalize supply of LP gas, such attacks disrupts our distribution system,” the statement said, adding, “Such attacks might lead to serious consequences as LP gas is an inflammable material.”
Talking to Republica, Shiva Ghimire, president of the association said, “Some groups are using force to seize LP gas cylinders from bottlers and depots, and later sell them in the black market,” he added.
Meanwhile, bottlers have also urged the government to increase supply of LP gas in the market. “We've been supplying mere 10-11 percent of our normal demand because of the ongoing Tarai unrest and border obstruction. It has seriously affected demand-supply situation in the market,” the association said, urging the government to look for options to boost LP gas supply.
Officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), however, said that they have not received request for security from any bottler so far. “The case related to Everest Gas is exceptional. We have deployed security personnel at every gas depot and bottling plant,” Laxmi Dhakal, spokesperson of MoHA, said. “We will tighten security if needed,” he added.
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