Kathmandu, June 17

The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) has demanded the government to halt the issuance of product delivery order (PDO) of Himalayan Petrochemicals Pvt Ltd (HP Gas), if found guilty in the explosion of a gas cylinder of the company on May 20, in which three craftsmen were killed.

Issuing a press statement here today, FHAN has expressed deep condolences over the untimely loss of lives of Dhruba Tamrakar, Suresh Tamrakar and Rajesh Tamrakar during the incident, which took place in Haugal Tole of Lalitpur district.

Demanding strict monitoring of quality of gas cylinders circulated in market, the association has also sought compensation for bereaved family members.

The FHAN statement has come at a time when the gas bottlers across the country have said they would halt the supply of cooking gas if the government implements its decision to ban HP Gas from importing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

On Wednesday, the Consumer Protection Council under the Ministry of Supply decided to halt the PDO issuance to the company.

Nepal Oil Corporation issues PDOs to gas bottlers to import LPG from India.

Today, Nepal LP Gas Industry Association handed over a memorandum to Supply Minister Ganesh Man Pun to scrap its decision by Sunday, failing which they would halt supply of LPG from India.

Even as the government had formed an investigation team to look into the case of the cylinder explosion, the committee is yet to submit its report.

FHAN has also demanded that the investigation team publicise its report at the earliest and the guilty be brought to the books.