Kathmandu, August 27
Traders have warned that they will stop importing liquefied petroleum gas from upcoming November as India has not allowed bullets with Nepali number plates to supply the fuel.
The warning comes after no talk was held between the two countries as expected during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s recent visit to India.
Around one year ago, the Nepal government had written to India seeking permission for bullets with Nepali number plates to enter India. But, the southern neighbour has maintained silence over the issue.
“After our investment in the purchase of bullet got wasted, there is no point in importing gas from Indian transporters,” says Shiva Prasad Ghimire, President of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association.
India’s Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation has to issue such permits, certifying that the vehicles are safe enough to supply the petroleum product.
With a hope that India would issue the permit soon, Nepali traders had invested around Rs 5 billion to purchase nearly 775 vehicles. Two of them have already arrived in Nepal whereas 450 are ready to be brought here, according to Ghimire.
It has been learned that Indian transporters have put pressure on the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation as issuance of permits to Nepali bullets would end their monopoly.
For last 40 years, around 500 Indian bullets are being used to ferry cooking gas to Nepal. After the border blockade that India imposed following the promulgation of constitution here in 2015, Nepal had initiated efforts to purchase own bullets.
Currently, around 600 Indian bullets supply 30,000 metric tonne gas to Nepal every month.
