LPG supply halted in Biratnagar

BIRATNAGAR, Jan 6: Supply of domestic cooking gas, LP gas, has been halted in Biratnagar due to protest of gas distributors. 

The distributors stopped supplying gas in the market on Wednesday, demanding increment in their commission amount. 

While the locals were already struggling with extreme cold and needed more fuel to keep warm, they are now forced to live with shortage of gas. 

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"We had been demanding an increase in the commission amount for long time," Tejraj Shrestha, executive member of Gas Dealers' Federation Nepal, said. “We have been compelled to protest as nobody listened to us.” 

According to Shrestha, the gas distributors are working for the same commission amount for the past 15 years. 

Currently, the distributors in Biratnagar are selling LP gas at the rate of Rs 1,355 per cylinder. They get Rs 35 in commission per cylinder. 

Shrestha said that their demand was to get at least five percent of commission on their investment.    

District Administration Office of Morang has requested the gas distributors not to halt supply of essential items like cooking gas. The office has also requested them to take back their protest. 

“This issue can be solved at the central level only and the policy will be implemented throughout the country," Ram Prasad Acharya, chief district officer of Morang, said. "They should not trouble the consumers by stopping supplies.”