Bottlers miss LP gas import quota yet again

KATHMANDU, March 11:

Bottlers failed to import liquefied petroleum (LP) gas as per the quota fixed by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in February as well.

NOC had provided supply quota of 29,472 tons to bottlers in February. But they managed to import only 26,000 tons. Bottlers had also missed the quota in January.

Bottlers say they couldn't import LP gas as per the quota provided by NOC in the lack of proper coordination between NOC and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), unscientific distribution of quota, and NOC's inability to fix quota in time.

"Though bottlers had deposited the required money with NOC to import 29,472 tons, IOC did not supply LP gas accordingly," Shiva Ghimire, president of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, said. “There is a lack of coordination between NOC and IOC. The Indian supplier is reluctant to supply LP gas as per the quota fixed by NOC."

Ghimire said bottlers are not getting sufficient supply from India as NOC generally fixes quota at the eleventh hour. "We are forced to import as per the quota of previous month as NOC doesn't fixes quota in time," he added.

Bottlers also blame unscientific allocation of quota behind low import in February.     

NOC officials, however, claim that the LP gas import in February is sufficient to meet the market demand. "We are working in close coordination with IOC and bottlers so that bottlers can import LP gas as per the quota allotted to them," Mukunda Ghimire, spokesperson of NOC, told Republica.

NBSM hesitates to take action agaisnt tainted bottler

BIRATNAGAR, March 11:  The Biratnagar-based regional office of Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) has not taken action against Risalko Gas Udhyog which was found circulating under-weight liquefied petroleum (LP) gas cylinders.

The Morang office of Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) had recommended the regional office to take action against the LP gas bottler after market inspectors found that 146 of its cylinders were underweight. The cylinders were weighing as much as 450 grams less than the prescribed weight.

The district office had recommended the regional office of NBSM to slap a fine of Rs 1,000 per cylinder.

"We had immediately recommended the regional office of NBSM to take action against the bottler. But nothing has happened so far," Naya Raj Nepal, chief of Morang Office of DoCSM, said.

Meanwhile, Manish Kumar Das, chief of NBSM Biratnagar Regional Office said that file has been forwarded to the central office of NBSM for further action. "We will initiate action against the bottler once we receive direction from the central office," added Das.

Source: Republica