61 booked, 5,400 meters disconnected in operation against gas theft this year

PESHAWAR: Cases were registered in the respective police stations against 61 people while 5400 tampered meters were disconnected during the current year by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the drive against gas theft, said an official.

Supported by the Frontier Constabulary and local police, an operation has also been started for removal of illegal taps obtained by the locals on the high-pressure operational line in Karak, which is supplying gas from Karak to Dera Ismail Khan and Bhakkar.

“We have set up a special task force to go after the gas theft. During the last couple of months, the SNGPL teams have registered 61 first information reports (FIRs) and disconnected 5,400 meters that were tampered by the owners. Apart from Peshawar, the operation is underway in Karak, Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu, Lakki Marwat and other districts of the province,” Saqib Arbab, SNGPL general manager, told The News.

The official said that teams have been deployed across the region to carry out raids against the illegal networks, direct connections, and tampered meters, meter reversal and against the illegal privately developed housing societies.

“The Special Task Force has also taken action against industrial and commercial gas connections. The action was taken against three industrial and around 100 commercial connections for pilferage of gas,” said the official. Last week, a spokesman said that the SNGPL has taken up the issue of illegal taps from the high transmission line with law-enforcement agencies and the KP government as it can cause a serious threat to lives and properties as the transmission line is being operated at almost 1,000 PSIG.

“The SNGPL is continuously working to convince the locals to stop such illegal/unauthorised practice. The federal and provincial governments are keen to find an amicable solution to curb gas losses in oil and gas producing districts. Besides, the SNGPL has designed Rs9 billion project to rehabilitate and extend gas network in Karak, Hangu and Dera Ismail Khan,” said the spokesman.