Bottlers have warned of halting the supply of cooking gas if the government implements its decision to ban Himalayan Petrochemicals (HP Gas) from importing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

A meeting of the Consumer Protection Council under the Supply Ministry on Wednesday took the decision to halt the issuance of Purchase Delivery Orders (PDOs) to the company following an incident of explosion of HP Gas cylinder in which three people were killed.

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) issues PDOs to gas bottlers to import LPG from India.

On Thursday, Nepal LP Gas Industry Association handed over a memorandum to Supply Minister Ganesh Man Pun with a five-day ultimatum to the government to scrap its decision.

This, however, is a usual pressure strategy the bottlers employ to get avoid punishment for their wrongdoings.

Leakage as a result of poor cylinder quality has been blamed for the explosion that took place at a metal workshop in Haugaal, Lalitpur, on May 20.

“If the government does not annul its decision in aforementioned period, all the gas bottlers will stop taking PDOs from NOC, halting the LPG supply completely,” stated the association in the memorandum. The bottlers said the government took the decision without waiting for reports of probe committees.

Following the HP Gas accident, the government formed two investigation committees—one under Laxman Shrestha, director of the department, and the other led by Joint-secretary Ananda Ram Regmi. The committees were supposed to submit their reports within two weeks, but they have yet to do so even after a month.

The government has categorised LPG under essential goods. As per the law, the supply of essentials cannot be disrupted on any pretext.

Minister Pun said there is no point for the bottlers to protest. “We have banned HP Gas only temporarily from importing LPG until the final report comes out,” he said.

On charges that the government stepped back from banning another bottler Sugam Gas for a similar incident, Pun said the Sugam Gas case was not so severe compared to that of HP Gas.

In a separate incident that took place at Samajhdari Marg, Kalimati, on Tuesday, seven people were injured after a Sugam Gas cylinder leaked. Of the injured, a person died on Thursday. Deputy Superintendent of Police Hem Kumar Thapa, chief of Metropolitan Police Circle, Kalimati, said Bibhu Pandit breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Kirtipur Model Hospital.

Minister Pun said they have also started investigation into the Sugam Gas incident. “We will take action against the guilty,” he said.

Ananda Ram Regmi, spokesperson for the Supply Ministry, said they will hold talks with the bottlers on Friday to find a solution.

“We have not stopped the company from carrying out its business, but only halted LPG imports temporarily,” he said.

Shiva Ghimire, president of LP Gas Industry Association, said they were ready to face action if found guilty. “But the government cannot stop issuing PDOs to the companies before the actual report comes out,” he said.