Money
4,500 LPG cylinders distributed in Pokhara
Householders in Pokhara were able to buy cooking gas for the first time on Wednesday since dealers ran out of stock one and a half months ago after India stopped shipments.Lal Prasad Sharma
Householders in Pokhara were able to buy cooking gas for the first time on Wednesday since dealers ran out of stock one and a half months ago after India stopped shipments.
Griha Laxmi Gas Company distributed half-filled cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to relieved customers who have been under extreme stress due to lack of fuel. The entire country has been hit by a severe shortage of LPG after India imposed an undeclared embargo.
Griha Laxmi was selling half-filled cylinders at Rs700 apiece from Exhibition Hall, Pokhara. “About 4,500 cylinders have been sold so far,” said Officiating Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Regmi who is also the chairman of the District Supply Committee. “About 2,000 cylinders of gas will be sold on Thursday in the Lekhanath area,” he added
After news spread that cooking gas would be distributed from Exhibition Hall, people had started queuing up with their gas cylinders the night before, some lugging their heavy cylinders more than 3 km.
“I could get gas because I arrived here early,” said Sharmila Sharma from the Bus Park area with a sigh of relief. “It will keep me going for some days.”
However, many consumers had to return empty-handed. Assistant accountant of Griha Laxmi Gas Company, Ashok Kumar Giri, said that they would distribute cooking gas as stocks permitted.
Meanwhile, the depot of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) at Gagangauda said that 709,000 litres of diesel, 350,000 litres of petrol and 12,000 litres of kerosene had been distributed in Pokhara since India imposed the embargo.
“We have distributed fuel that we had in stock and from freshly arrived shipments,” said Monoj Thakur, chief of the depot. NOC depots in Kaski, Tanahun, Syangja, Parbat, Baglung and Myagdi distribute fuel in the Western Region. The District Administration Office, Kaski has asked petrol pumps to provide fuel by setting certain quantity limits. Gasoline stations have been distributing fuel to consumers on a first come, first served basis.
Kalika Fuel Station run by the Armed Police Force (APF) here has also been providing gasoline to ambulances, government agencies, media houses and media persons under the emergency category. “We have been distributing fuel based on the standard set by the district administration,” said APF Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabindra Chhetri.