Kathmandu, February 20:

Gas dealers are all set to put an end to the problem of shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by introducing the consumer card system (CCS) from February 25. There are around seven lakh LPG consumers in the country and the total demand for LPG imported is 12,000 metric tons. There are around 15,000 gas dealers distributing the LPG.

“ People here frequently face shortage of cooking gas. So, in order to ensure smooth supply of LPG, we are introducing the consumer card system from February 25,” said Gyaneshwor Aryal, president of Gas Dealers’ Federation Nepal (GDFN).

Aryal said GDFN will provide consumer cards to the dealers with PAN number and under GDFN. “For systematic card distribution, we have categorized all the places into five

areas and initially we will start consumer card distribution at selected places in Kathmandu,” he added.

“The consumer card distribution will be initiated from area number one encompassing 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,” Aryal said. Talking about the process to be followed during the card distribution, Aryal said, “Each family will get one consumer card but valid identification card is a must. Dealers during the card distribution should register the consumers’ data in the register and there must be transparency in the number of LPG cylinders taken from the gas companies and the number of LPGs distributed to the consumer.”

GDFN is also running different awareness campaigns to spread awareness among consumers about the use of LPG. “ We are doing this so that consumers don’t get cheated in terms of quality and quantity in the LPG cylinders that they get from the depots. We are also working to get a reliable weighing system in the depots. Along with it, investigation teams will also be formed for frequent checks of the depots,” Aryal said.

According to GDFN, due to lack of awareness consumers are being cheated. Frequently, the LPG cylinders have been found to weigh less than that specified. To control the problem, GDFN is working to introduce the weighing system. An LPG cylinder normally weighs 14.2 kilogrammes.

Appreciating the GDFN iniative, LPG Industry Association president Sanwarmal Agrawal said, “This is really a good start to maintain exact statistics about the consumers and the gas depots. Under this system, the shortage of LPG will be minimised to a great extent and there will be systematic distribution of LPG in the market.”