KATHMANDU, Aug. 10: Following reports of black-marketing of cooking gas, plainclothes police have been deployed at various gas depots in the Kathmandu Valley in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
The move comes amid repeated complaints that an artificial shortage of cooking gas imported from India was being created to facilitate black-marketing. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Yadav has taken a serious interest in the issue.
NOC says cooking gas supply remains normal
Minister Yadav urged Home Minister Sudan Gurung to mobilize police to monitor and control activities aimed at creating an artificial shortage despite adequate gas supplies and causing problems for consumers by selling gas at inflated prices.
Following her request, Home Minister Gurung instructed the police administration to take necessary action. Accordingly, plainclothes police have been deployed at various gas depots across the Kathmandu Valley for surveillance and monitoring.
Immediate legal action will be taken against those found hiding gas cylinders, creating artificial shortages, selling gas above the prescribed price or engaging in black-marketing, authorities said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said that, based on information gathered through monitoring in the Valley, plainclothes police will also be deployed at gas depots in other districts as necessary to strengthen surveillance.
The government has made it clear that activities aimed at creating an artificial shortage of cooking gas and causing hardship to consumers will not be tolerated and said it is preparing to further strengthen monitoring to curb black-marketing.
