Intent to Defraud Consumers: Gas Traders Create Artificial Shortage Using Iran Crisis as Excuse

Kathmandu: Taking advantage of the international situation created after the US and Israel’s attack on Iran, cooking gas traders in Nepal have begun defrauding consumers by creating an artificial shortage. After distributors who regularly supply gas suddenly started making excuses that there is no gas and that new supplies will take 10 to 15 days, consumers have been left struggling.

Consumer complaints suggest that some traders, exploiting the vacuum created after the elections where a new government has yet to be formed and the previous government has become ineffective, have begun hiding stored gas and creating an artificial shortage in the market. Accusations have emerged that certain traders are playing games of artificial price hikes and shortages by disrupting supply chains during this political transition period.

Consumer rights activists state that despite regular supply of cooking gas in the Nepali market, traders are spreading artificial fear by citing the ‘impact of the Iran crisis’ and creating shortages by not releasing stored gas to the market. This not only causes hardship to ordinary consumers but also appears intended to challenge the incoming government, they argue.

History shows that gas traders have previously created such artificial shortages with government complicity on various pretexts. However, such behavior even when a Gen-Z led government is preparing to take office has proven the Nepali adage “no matter which yogi comes, the ear remains split.” This raises suspicions of a conspiracy to defame the new government and question its effectiveness.

Consumers have drawn the attention of relevant authorities to this matter, demanding strict action against traders creating artificial shortages. They state, “This is fraud, not a normal shortage. Whoever engages in defrauding consumers using international crises as an excuse must face the strictest punishment.”

Consumer rights organizations demand that the government take immediate effective steps to control such artificial shortages and fraudulent activities. Given the impact such manipulation of daily essential items like cooking gas has on citizens’ livelihoods, the government must maintain strict vigilance and regulation. There is widespread demand among consumers for strict punishment according to law for anyone found guilty of creating artificial shortages and defrauding consumers.