Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Industry, Commerce, Labor, and Consumer Interest Protection Committee of the House of Representatives has directed the government to address the shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the market.
Speaking at a meeting of the committee on Wednesday, members said a weak distribution system was causing the shortage of the popular cooking fuel and called for prompt action to resolve the issue.
The committee also directed that the government arrange smooth and affordable supply of essential daily food items—including sugar, rice, oil, vegetables, and spices, targeting the upcoming festive season.
Responding to questions raised by members, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Gauri Kumari said that the government was trying to make the status of LPG supply, distribution, and transportation transparent.
“The government has begun collecting LPG distribution details from gas depots and retailers and uploading the information to the ministry’s website,” she said. “Necessary arrangements have been made at various points to easily provide gas cylinders to ordinary citizens, postpartum women, or those needing only one or two cylinders.”
During the meeting, Managing Director of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), Nagendra Sah, claimed that LPG supply would normalize within a week. “Since cylinders of different brands are in circulation in the market, it is becoming challenging for us to exchange and manage them,” he said. “Mergers of bottlers can provide a long-term solution to the problem.”
Sah informed the committee that 3.4 million cylinders had already been sent to the market by the 26th of Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), which is higher than the average monthly demand of around 3.2 to 3.3 million cylinders.
“We are making continuous efforts to normalize the situation. A system to deliver gas directly to the homes of consumers in critical need, such as the helpless, elderly, and postpartum women, has also been put into place,” Sah added.
