Kathmandu, Aug 7: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to ensure smooth supply of LP gas. Transparency and accountability must be maintained in distribution process so that consumers’ access to cooking gas would be ensured, the human rights body said.
Effective market monitoring is imperative- both on regular and need bases- to curb artificial shortage and unnecessary hoarding of gas, NHRC said, adding that those involved in creating artificial shortages deserve legal action.
NHRC Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel shared that NHRC conducted investigation on the recent LP gas shortages in the Kathmandu Valley and engaged with various stakeholders, including the Food Management Company Limited and the Nepal Oil Corporation. The NHRC findings brought to light that consumers faced difficulties in securing cooking gas due to a lack of tracking systems and the prioritization of regular customers by the sellers.
It has disproportionately affected students, daily wageworkers and lower-income people, who often struggled to secure even a single cylinder, NHRC argued.
