20 August, Kathmandu. Nagendra Sah, executive director of Nepal Oil Corporation, defended the criticism about the price of LP gas for cooking and claimed that gas is still cheaper compared to other consumables.
He said this while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Nepal Economic Journalists Association (SEJAN) on Saturday on 'Effects and Challenges on the Supply and Value Chain after the Floods'.
He emphasized that ease of supply should be prioritized over price as gas is not produced in Nepal and must be completely dependent on imports.
While MPs and consumer rights activists are vehemently protesting the price hike, Executive Director Shah has compared gas to the price of meat.
"Today, a kilo of meat costs 17 to 1800 rupees in the market, which can be consumed in a week or a day," Sah said, comparing the prices, "but one cylinder of gas, which costs about 2100 rupees, can last a family for two months." Shall we seriously think about this matter or not?'
Saying that the price of 2100 rupees is not a big deal, he said that the main thing is to give priority to the consumers and how to light their stoves and this is the common responsibility of all.
Saha informed that currently the corporation is dealing with gas at a loss of Rs 400 per cylinder. Mentioning the fact that businessmen are also complaining about having to trade at a loss, he argued that the consumer's complaint that the price has become expensive should be looked at practically.
Saha clarified that although the supply system has been challenged due to the Rasuwa floods and landslides, the corporation is making maximum efforts to facilitate the supply keeping in mind the interests of the consumers.
