NHRC directs govt to ensure smooth distribution of petroleum products
KATHMANDU: National Human Rights Commission — Nepal has formally directed the government to adopt all necessary measures to facilitate the smooth distribution of petroleum products across the country.
In a press statement issued on Friday, NHRC Under Secretary Shyam Babu Kafle urged the government to bring anyone involved in creating artificial shortages within the ambit of the law and emphasised the need to regulate unnecessary storage and to protect consumer rights through the immediate arrangement of essential supplies.
A specialised team from the commission recently conducted field visits to monitor several key entities, including the Nepal Oil Corporation, the Department of Commerce, the Nepal Food Management Company and various gas depots.
“According to monitoring and observations, Nepal mainly depends on imports for the supply of petroleum products, and the raw materials to be imported are being supplied regularly, as before,” the statement read.
The commission identified that, while transportation management issues at certain gas companies caused minor supply hiccups, misleading reports in various media outlets have exacerbated the situation. Such reports have prompted consumers to hoard more supplies than required, while some traders have reportedly leveraged the situation to create artificial shortages.
The NHRC also drew attention to reports of a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the Kathmandu Valley and noted that the current situation in the Middle East and subsequent regional tensions have further contributed to concern and fear among consumers regarding future supply stability.
