As the country grapples with an acute shortage of LPG gas for cooking, consumers are facing significant difficulties. In the Kathmandu Valley, police have been deployed to curb black market activities, but the government’s gas distribution system has proven to be completely ineffective. Industry Minister Gaurikumar Yadav’s market inspections and phone responses have been labeled by consumer rights activists as mere publicity stunts aimed at gaining popularity.
On 24th Saun, Kathmandu: As Saun nears its end, consumers nationwide remain distressed due to a severe shortage of LPG gas for cooking. Long queues persist at major city intersections as consumers are unable to get cylinders, preventing them from cooking meals at home. Some vendors have sharply increased prices, charging between NPR 7,000 to 8,000 for a single cylinder, exacerbating consumer suffering.
The situation clearly reveals systemic failure in the gas distribution mechanism, as the police have been mobilized in Kathmandu district to ensure distribution. Plainclothes units have been deployed across the valley to crack down on black marketeers. Data shows that on Saturday alone, approximately 8,000 cylinders were distributed from 55 locations in Kathmandu by police officers. However, gas distribution is not a police responsibility. The fact that dealers cannot provide a steady supply and black market activity has surged necessitating police intervention indicates the system’s failure.
This underscores the complete weakness of the government’s commerce and supply machinery.
A Minister’s Phone Calls: Gesture or Genuine Reform?
Amidst this shortage, an unusual scene unfolded on Saturday at the Ministry of Industry. Some YouTube channels were filming as Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Minister Gaurikumar Yadav personally answered calls on the ministry’s toll-free number. She assured one consumer that gas would be available by the next day. To another caller, she recommended buying gas from Salt Trading, stating there was enough supply and consumers could purchase as needed.
Minister Yadav formally conducted monitoring visits at the old Nepal Oil Corporation building in Teku, Salt Trading’s office in Kalimati, and Nepal Gas Industry in Balaju during the afternoon. On the surface, this ministerial activity might appear responsive and responsible to consumers; such gestures often receive praise on social media. However, the question remains—should a minister’s role be limited to answering a few consumer calls? The issue is nationwide. Is it the minister’s responsibility that consumers have to travel to Salt Trading or the gas industry locations just to obtain cylinders? The fact that consumers must physically transport cylinders to Teku, Salt Trading, or Balaju highlights a systemic failure.
A government that talks about good governance but creates a scenario forcing consumers to carry cylinders across towns and intersections is an embarrassment. The solution must be nationwide, not restricted to Kathmandu Valley, as demonstrated by demonstrations where consumers carry empty cylinders in protest.
Consumer rights activist Madhav Timalsina described Minister Yadav’s market visits as a cheap publicity stunt. “The minister answering a few consumer calls and directing them to buy gas does not sustainably resolve supply issues,” Timalsina stated. “Inspection and monitoring should be conducted by district administration, the Commerce Department, and officials from the Oil Corporation. The minister’s role is to create policies and manage crises.”
He cited demand-supply imbalance and the Nepal Oil Corporation’s irresponsibility as key causes of the current crisis. The government has allegedly failed to implement lessons from past crises like blockades, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, such as maintaining emergency buffer stocks and instituting early warning systems. “The corporation claims to have over 150,000 cylinders available, with daily market demand around 100,000, but only 20,000 are being supplied daily,” he explained. “Gas should be distributed by dealers near consumers, but due to panic, distribution from the industry itself occurs, which results in additional transport and commission costs of NPR 90 to 100 per cylinder to the industries. The whole system is fundamentally flawed.”
According to data, the Nepal LPG Gas Industry Association estimates it will take another 10 to 15 days to fully resolve the shortage. Meanwhile, the government and the Oil Corporation attribute the crisis to consumer panic buying and hoarding of excess cylinders. The Corporation is submitting data on increased import quotas from India. Spokesperson Manoj Thakur said the regular quota has been raised from 49,500 tons to between 54,000 and 55,000 tons. “Previously, 46,000 to 47,000 tons were being imported, but imports decreased over the last three months and demand increased, so now around 55,000 tons are being allocated,” he added.
The Nepal Oil Corporation claims no issues with supply from India. According to their figures, between Saun 10 and 21, approximately 1,754,154 cylinders worth of gas were imported and sold within 12 days. The daily average cylinder sales stand at about 110,000. Despite government claims that gas imports exceed daily consumption, queues have not diminished. For four months, distribution has been limited to roughly half a cylinder per consumer. In this context, both the government and corporation have failed to increase import quantities and improve distribution efficiency.
Executive Director Nagendra Sah of the Corporation claims the gas distribution system will normalize within a week. Discussions with Indian Oil Corporation have been completed and gas supply is coming as per demand. “Indian Oil is supplying as requested, and we are bringing as much as possible,” he said. “We are working to stabilize the situation within a week.”
Not a Stunt, But a System is Needed
What the minister needs to understand is that providing gas to one or two consumers cannot solve the problem faced by millions. Instead of theatrics at the ministry, the responsible agencies should be mobilized to reform the distribution system. Previous inspections have not yielded tangible success. The government’s priority should be to increase supply and formulate policies to end the gas shortage. If gas is sufficient but black market activity occurs, strict action must be taken against corrupt dealers or industries. Simply answering consumer calls or giving direct orders will not solve the problem, as its root lies in policy-level failures. The minister must effectively deploy the mechanism to ensure consumers receive gas easily. The government must make the distribution system transparent and straightforward by providing gas through dealers near the consumers. Otherwise, the minister’s popularity will not extend beyond mere optics. Citizens require a functional distribution system, not the minister’s “stunts,” during the gas shortage.
