Kathmandu- The Nepal LP Gas Industry Association has announced a protest program with various 19-point demands, saying that the industry cannot continue to operate if the government’s strategy is to unilaterally discourage investment instead of protecting it.

The association has announced the protest programs, demanding that the government should effectively conduct a public awareness program on gas safety to prevent LP gas accidents, tighten the use of substandard pipes and regulators, implement legal provisions to ensure compliance with safety rules, dealer commission, transportation, and overhead expenses should be increased immediately as there has been no increase for the past 6 years and that arrangements should be made to adjust them according to the inflation rate every year.

Association President Shiva Ghimire has also said that since Nepal does not have an explosives law and regulatory body, it had to obtain a license from India as per Indian laws and regulations and that billions of rupees are being sent to foreign country annually due to the lack of Nepali transportation vehicles.

The association has said that from Wednesday, Magh 30, all 59 LP gas industries across the country will not purchase Product Delivery Orders (PDOs) from Nepal Oil Corporation, from Thursday, Falgun 1 to Monday, Falgun 5, 2081, all gas industries will publicize the protest programs through all local organizations and media and the Nepal LP Gas Industry Association at the center, from Tuesday, Falgun 6, no gas bullets of LP gas loaded for Nepal from Indian Oil of India will be loaded, from Monday, Falgun 2, no gas bullets loaded for Nepal will be released from any customs checkpoint, from Sunday, Falgun 18, all 59 gas industries in Nepal will be closed indefinitely, and from Saturday, Falgun 22, gas sales depots across the country will be requested to close completely.