This has protracted plight of the consumers, as the agitating parties have stalled imports and distribution of popular household fuel for the last five days. [break]
“The LPG companies demanded us ´not to induct further bottlers´ and ensure them ´business guarantee´. Because that goes against the free-market operations and government´s policy, we could not agree with them,” said an official at the NOC.
Talking to myrepublica.com, he, however, said that NOC has already fulfilled their genuine demands like increase in supply of LPG, third party insurance of tankers ferrying fuel and involvement of gas companies´ representatives in a study that will explore out the possibility of importing LPG from third countries.
With the agreement on those demands, Nepal LPG Industries Association (NLPGIA) and Nepal LPG Dealers Association (NLPGDA) should have withdrawn their strike. But, they have preferred to continue their strike, first demanding the NOC not to enforce new regulations to oversee LPG market operations.
While they let go that demand after Ministry of Supplies intervened in the negotiation on Saturday, they, however, instantly pressed for fulfillment of the two new demands. Of the two new demands, first one seeks government´s commitment on not issuing bottling license to new players, and second urges the government to guarantee their business.
“Their demands are simply unfair,” said Purushottam Ojha, secretary at Ministry of Commerce and Supplies. “How could the companies that entered in the business themselves because of liberal policy of the government demand restrictive policy?” he wondered.
The bottlers and dealers had launched the strike claiming that they were on strike in the interest of consumers and improvement of supplies. When they went on the strike they were receiving just about 12,000 tons of gas, while the demand in the market had soared to about 15,000 tons.
But when NOC arranged the Indian supplier to issue more LPG for Nepal, the bottlers have refused to collect the supply. “Consumers interest was mere a façade. The bottlers and dealers are actually fighting for their own interests,” said Jyoti Baniya, general secretary of Consumers´ Rights Protection Forum.
He even lodged a complaint at Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO), demanding it to order companies return to work and supply fuel to consumers within 24 hours.
“LPG like other petroleum products is listed as essential service in the Essential Service Act and strike on it is restricted,” reads the petition filed at the DAO.
However, DAO only asked the companies to submit details of their imports and sales and update it on negotiations going on over their demands.
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