KATHMANDU: A raid carried out by a team of Gas Dealers’ Federation of Nepal, Department of Commerce and Kathmandu District Administration Office has revealed that a number of gas industries are cheating consumers by creating artificial shortage of Liquified Petroleum Gas in the market.

Godowns of Manoj Gas, Shree Krishna Gas, Sai Baba Gas, Everest Gas and LP Energy Pvt Ltd were raided today. Everest Gas at Chalnakhel was found stocking 1,912 LPG cylinders while there were 1,139 filled cylinders at LP Energy in Maharajgunj. Manoj Gas had only three filled cylinders in store. Shree Krishna Gas had 27 cylinders while Sai Baba Gas had 400 cylinders in their warehouses.

Industry representatives, however, denied their involvement in creating a shortage in the market. Rajendra Pandey, manager, Everest Gas Industry Pvt Ltd, said they were instructed not to distribute gas in the market by LP Gas Industries’ Association. “We are neither trying to create a shortage, nor are we involved in black-marketeering. As LPGIA members, we are doing whatever we are asked to do,” he said. Everest Gas halted distribution on July 23.

LP Energy Pvt Ltd, authorised distributor of Lumbini Gas, was found stocking 1,139 filled cylinders. Distribution of Lumbini Gas was halted on July 24. Binod Pandey of LP Energy also denied any wrong-doing.

Meanwhile, Gyaneshwor Aryal, president, GDFN, said the situation had occurred due to the lack of an authorised body to regulate the market of the cooking gas. “It’s weak governance that has time and again created the shortage in the market,” said Aryal.

Krishna Acharya, administrative officer, DAO Kathmandu, said there would now be a regular market monitoring and the company found guilty of malpractices would be taken to task.

Some distributors were caught with damaged cylinders or those containing gas in quantities lesser than prescribed. Some weighing machines were found lying out of order. The inspection uncovered a number of cylinders refilled and kept for circulation at LP Energy in Maharajgunj. The cylinders had not undergone Hydraulic test for years and dated from 1987. Second test was conducted in 1994.

According to dealer representatives in the team, a cylinder for the household should undergo hydraulic test during its production, after 10 years of use and once in three years henceforth. Pointing to the weighing machine, Pandey said, “It has not been repaired for a month.” The raid found number of Everest Gas cylinders underweight by 100 g. Gas dealers urged Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology to check market for irregularities.