Underweight gas seized:

KATHMANDU: A market monitoring team of the department of commerce has seized 365 Himal Gas cylinders from Gauri Shanker Industry in Patan, after they were found 200 to 500g short in standard weight. The team comprised of an inspection officer of Lalitpur, and representatives of Consumers’ Forum Nepal, Consumers’ Interest Protection Nepal, District Administration Office, Lalitpur, and Nepal Oil Corporation. — HNS

Date-expired oil destroyed:

BIRATNAGAR: About 1,188 litres of date-expired cooking oil has recently been seized from Suman Traders belonging to Bikas Agrawal of local Bhrikuti Chowk in Biratnagar by a joint market monitoring team. The seized oil was destroyed on the bank of local Singiya river on Tuesday. The oil comprised products of Amrit mustard oil, Ganga cooking oil and Sri brand mustard oil. — RSS

Soft loan for milk farmers:

POKHARA: Kalilek Milk Production Centre at Jogmani in Armala VDC of Kaski has been providing loan to low-income farmers. Ghana Shayam Acharya, coordinator of the centre, said the loan was being provided to farmers for income-generating activities. 15 farmers have so far been provided with a loan worth Rs 300,000. — RSS

Potato centre in ruins:

ILAM: Over 8,100 ropanis of land belonging to Potato Development Centre in Ilam has turned into pasture due to lack of maintenance. Over a dozen buildings have also turned into ruins after the centre was moved to Ankhisala of Dhankuta, said Parasuram Tiwari, a local. The centre was established with Indian assistance in Jamuna Jogmai and Pyang VDCs in 1990. — RSS

India to hold gas talks:

NEW DELHI: India’s cabinet on Wednesday gave the green light for the oil ministry to hold talks with Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan on securing gas supplies for energy-starved India, a minister said. “It will significantly enhance the oil security of the country,” petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar told reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh. — AFP