Kathmandu, February 25:

Gas Dealer’s Federation Nepal (GDFN) launched its consumer card service today. Speaking at a programme, GDFN president Gyaneshwor Aryal claimed that it is consumer-oriented and not profit-oriented. “The federation is on its way to develop a new system although a lot needs to be done,” he said.

“Along with the registration of cooking gas dealers, they will also be included in the tax boundary to support the tax collection,” Aryal said.

There are around 15,000 gas dealers, supplying gas to seven lakh Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPGs) consumers here and the total demand for LPG is 12,000 metric tonnes.

LP Gas Association general secretary Ranjit Singh said that GDFN’s initiative was a positive one as the government failed to take such steps. “However, the consumer card service needs to be transparent while distributing cards,” he suggested.

Department of Nepal Standards and Metrology managing director Sitaram Joshi said there should be a system of gas cylinder number registration in the consumer card. “This is so that if any accident takes place, the department can immediately take action against the related company,” he said adding that without the cylinder number registration the department would be unable to seek compensation from the companies.

Speaking on the occasion, acting revenue secretary at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) Krishna Hari Baskota said that irregularities prevail in the LPG supply system. “Consumers are compelled to use whatever they get. They should get aware and raise their voice against this system so that LPG cylinders carry exact weight.”

The consumer card distribution will be initiated from Area number one that has Budhanilkanth,

Bansbari, Lazimpat, Baluwatar, Thamel, Samakhusi, Gangabu, Sorakhutte, Dhapasi and Banasthali. Consumers in these places can collect their cards from their respective gas

dealers’ depots. “Along with seven different areas within the valley, the card distribution will start at Chitwan and Pokhara,” Aryal informed.

GDFN is also running different awareness campaigns for LPG consumers so that they don’t get cheated in the quantity of gas in LPG cylinders they take from the depots. It is also working

to get a reliable weighing system in the depots. Investigation teams will also be formed for frequent inspection of the depots. An LPG cylinder normally weighs 14.2 kilogrammes.