Public at wits’ end as fuel shortage worsens

As the shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) worsens, the level of frustration and anger among consumers seem to have reached an all time high. The frustration of the price hike in petroleum products coupled with the scarcity of fuel has led the commoners to take matter into their own hands. Local people took control of three vehicles loaded with Himal Gas cylinders at Sallaghari, Bhaktapur, on Wednesday. People stood in the middle of the road risking their lives to block the vehicles. However, they did not take any of the LPG cylinders free of cost. They paid Rs 1,415 per cylinder. Some of them bought new gas cylinders. The vehicle staff said some gas cylinders have been lost in the ensuing chaos. Around 350 cooking gas cylinders were exchanged after the owner agreed to sell them to the agitating mass. Durlav Thapa, who led the group that took over the vehicle, said acute shortage of LPG forced them to take the matter into their own hands. Some 80-85 LPG loaded trucks were heading towards Kathmandu from the morning, he added. “All the things happened when a truck carrying Himal Gas cylinders was requested to provide cooking gas to two needy families—one suffering from a serious health problem and the other pregnant woman,” Thapa said. “They have not been able to cook anything for the last three days.” When one of the three cooking gas-loaded trucks of the Himal Gas agreed to provide the requested cylinders, people started exchanging their cylinders. They also stopped a vehicle carrying Sagar Gas that was heading to Kathmandu from Banepa. “Police then intervened, assuring the mass that the administration would distribute cooking gas,” Thapa said. The Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur took hold of 174 cylinders belonging to Sagar Gas being supplied to Jadibuti and Satdobato gas depots. There was anger aimed at whoever worked in the supply chain of the cooking gas, said Dev Lal Manandhar, owner of Devlal Kailash Store, Jadibuti. Consumer rights groups blamed the government for utter neglect. Consumer rights activist Prem Lal Maharjan said the government is responsible for ensuring regular supply of essential commodities to its citizens. He accused the government of aiding black marketing. Gas Dealers’ Federation criticised the government for maintaining silence over the aggravating crisis. Chandra Thapa, vice-president of Gas Dealers’ Federation, Nepal attributes the current crisis to inadequate import of LPG in the month of December. LPG shortage has affected life across the country since early January. The shortage is likely to last until February as supplies of LPG have been at the level of 11,000 tonnes in January, fifty percent of the requirement, traders said. The Nepal Oil Corporation said LPG import has been increased by 800 tonnes per day from Monday. The country requires 20,000 tonnes LPG monthly and the demand reaches 25,000 tonnes in winter. Minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta appears hapless to mitigate the crisis. “I alone can do nothing,” Bhatta said, arguing that increasing gas prices is essential to generate around 5 billion rupees required to import LPG in required quantity. “Finance Ministry has shown no interest in resolving the crisis,” Bhatta passed the bucks.