A number of gas bottlers have failed to provide detailed information about cooking gas distribution to the government.

Suspecting the bottlers’ involvement in the sales of new LPG cylinders, the government had directed them to furnish the details to a control room set up at the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). Formed two months ago, the control room is coordinated by the Department of Commerce and Supply Management and represented by both the government and the private sector.

Issuing a directive, the Supply Ministry had asked the bottlers to provide details of the amount of gas bullets imported from India, their registered names, refilling dates, names of their dealers, sellers and distributors. However, 11 bottlers (10 Kathmandu-based) have not reported to the government. There are a total of 53 LPG bottlers in the country, of which 29 are based in the Valley.

Of the companies not abiding by the government directive, six are from Dhading (Namaste Gas, Shreemaya Gas, Lokpriya Gas, Tara Gas, Tribeni Gas and Gita Gas), two from Banepa (Chandi Gas and Surya Gas), and one each from Birgunj (Manoj Gas) and Pokhara (Grihalaxmi Gas).

Rajesh Dahal, a member of the control room panel representing the Gas Dealers Federation Nepal, suspected these bottlers’ involvement in selling new cylinders through their dealers. “These dealers have been reported to be selling cylinders through gas dealers that have not been certified by the Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM).”

There are an estimated 5,000 gas dealers in the Valley. Of them, only 800 have been certified by the DoCSM. After India imposed trade embargo on Nepal, the government had directed the bottlers to sell cooking gas only through certified gas dealers.

According to Dahal, the dealers receive profits of Rs300-350 on a new cylinder. As per the federation, the bottlers have so far sold an estimated 300,000 new cylinders through uncertified following dealers since the blockade.

Hari Narayan Belbase, coordinator of the control room and director at the Department of Commerce and Supply Manage-ment, said these companies had been reluctant to sent the sought information making various excuses. He said the department would take action against the companies if they failed to provide the details within a few days.

Belbase said the companies defying the government directives could be barred from doing the business. “We may file a case against the companies under the Consumer Protection Act 1998,” he said.