Nepal, March 10 -- The Gas Dealers Federation of Nepal (GDFN) has urged the government to take strict legal action against gas dealers and industries that are creating an artificial shortage of cooking gas or charge consumers above the government-set price.

Issuing a statement on Tuesday, the GDFN said it had taken serious note of reports that some sellers were exploiting the current situation by overcharging consumers and creating scarcity in the market.

It noted that concerns among consumers about a possible shortage of cooking gas are understandable given the recent unrest in the Middle East, which could affect future supply.

However, it stressed that taking advantage of such a sensitive situation to sell LPG at prices higher than t...