Kathmandu, September 9 Consumers in Kathmandu Valley are being forced to pay up

From Onlinekhabar English

Kathmandu, September 9 Consumers in Kathmandu Valley are being forced to pay up to Rs 3,000 for a cooking gas cylinder amid continuing shortages and disruptions to supply routes. The government-fixed price of an LPG cylinder is Rs 2,165, but consumers say some dealers are charging Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000. The shortage has worsened after landslides damaged the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir, disrupting the main supply route into the Valley following floods in Rasuwa. To maintain supplies, LPG cylinders from industries in Kathmandu, Dhading and Kavrepalanchok are being transported through alternative routes to plants in Bara, Parsa, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Dhanusha and Mahottari for refilling before being brought back to the Valley. LPG dealers say higher transport costs have pushed up their expenses. Gahas Bikreta Mahasangh Nepal First Vice-President Gehendra Prasad Rijal said dealers have had to travel to the Tarai themselves because industries have been unable to supply them. He said transport costs can add Rs 325–450 per cylinder depending on the vehicle used. However, he acknowledged that charging Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,000 per cylinder was unjustified.