KATHMANDU: Plainclothes police personnel will be deployed at various cooking gas depots across the Kathmandu Valley to help curb black marketing and artificial shortages.
The decision was made in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Industry after authorities received complaints about irregularities in the distribution of LPG gas.
Industry Minister Gauri Yadav took a special interest in the matter after the ministry began receiving continuous complaints from consumers alleging that traders were creating artificial shortages and selling gas at inflated prices, despite there being no problem with imports from India.
Although the overall supply situation has eased, Minister Yadav sought assistance from Home Minister Sudan Gurung to strengthen market monitoring and control activities aimed at misleading consumers and charging prices above the official rate.
Following the request, Home Minister Gurung directed the police administration to increase surveillance at gas depots and sales centers and to deploy plainclothes officers where necessary.
The government is preparing to intensify monitoring of businesses suspected of creating artificial shortages, hoarding LPG cylinders, or selling gas at prices higher than the prescribed rate. Authorities have said legal action will be taken against those found guilty.
Officials also said monitoring will be made more effective to ensure that consumers can obtain cooking gas easily and without unnecessary inconvenience.
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