Cooking gas shortage in Birgunj

Birgunj, September 11

Locals in Birgunj are reeling under acute shortage of cooking gas due to the indefinite general strike called by the United Democratic Madhesi Front.

Continuous bandh and curfew for the last 27 days has made the lives of locals difficult.  The local administration had imposed curfew in Birgunj after the situation went out of control.

The mismanagement in supply of the cooking gas by local dealers is said to be causing the shortage. But no initiative has been taken to solve the problem except for lifting curfew for few hours.

A local, Shiva Gupta, of Ranighat, Birgunj said he was compelled to eat beaten rice with water due to the shortage of cooking gas.

Nur Alam, a gas dealer, said the crunch has hit the locals hard as the administration has failed to provide security to the dealers. “Consumers come with empty cylinders after the curfew is lifted and return empty handed,” he informed.

Meanwhile, Parsa Assistant Chief District Officer Anuj Bhandari said the local administration has been providing security to dealers in order to ensure smooth supply of cooking gas in Birgunj.

“It is an artificial shortage,” he said. It is said that the entrepreneurs themselves are involved in black marketing of cooking gas taking advantage of the prolonged strike.

Consumers complained that some of the entrepreneurs have been selling cooking gas cylinders for up to Rs 1,800. They said they have also started facing shortage of other daily necessities.