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Thursday March 28, 2024

Low to zero gas pressure continues to haunt Pindiites

By Saeed Ahmed
February 15, 2018

Rawalpindi: The problem of zero to low gas pressure besides its loadshedding still persists in the areas of cantonments and Rawalpindi city which negates the tall claims of the concerned higher authorities in the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) who had assured that the situation will improve in January 2018.

The problem of low gas pressure which started even before the winter season i.e. October, 2017 started worsening with each passing day and till December, the situation developed into a crisis like situation in the city and cantonments localities forcing the SNGPL to resort to gas loadshedding at morning and night.

As the people faced great hardships and problems and complaints poured in, SNGPL Rawalpindi Region General Manager Mohammad Zahoor had assured that the department has taken measures to overcome the issue which include laying new gas pipelines in different parts of the city and cantonments besides launching campaign against those consumers who are using compressors to suck gap without any interruption, thus depriving others. Through these measures the situation of gas supply to the consumers would improve, the general manager had pledged in December last year.

However, instead of improvement in gas supply, the situation has further deteriorated in almost every locality of cantonments and Rawalpindi city particularly in morning and night hours due to continuity of loadshedding and also due to low to zero gas pressure. The continuation of gas problem forced the consumers to avail other options for burning their stoves with woods, gas cylinders and procure devices as well as compressors. Similarly, no positive results have been witnessed so far with the operation by SNGPL against such consumers who use compressors to suck gas. Instead of witnessing a decrease, the usage of compressors have gone up as a great majority of consumers prefer the option of purchasing compressors to avail gas supply in their houses.

Due to false claims, assurances and failure of SNGPL to end gas problem or improve its situation, the consumers are suffering badly particularly poor and lower class segments who because of their small incomes could not procure, wood, gas cylinders for preparing food and warm themselves with eaters in cold winter.

The consumers while expressing deep concern over the problem of gas shortage have made a fervent appeal to the relevant and competent authorities like the concerned minister for taking notice of the situation which has become worst and adopt measures for resolving the dilemma in an effective and permanent way.

The general manager on approaching for comments expressed his reservations to speak on the issue saying at present he was busy in a meeting it is hard to give statement or version on the report.

However, Syed Mohammad Raza, Deputy Chief, SNGPL while reacting to the gas problem related to its supply which is worst briefed about a project launched in Rawalpindi from Soan to Military College of Signals with an estimated cost of around Rs650 million. “Under this project, pipelines are being connected through the main supply line existing at Rawat side. Owing to defects in getting smooth gas supply from main supply line, SNGPL has started to lay 12 inches pipelines from Soan and this work is likely to be completed in next two months,” he added.

About operation launched against people who are using compressors for sucking gas, he said that their specially constituted teams have so far taken action against more than 500 consumers who have adopted such practices. The campaign is continuing and the survey staff would reach every house to apprehend them for using compressors which is not only illegal but dangerous too, Syed Raza stated. According to this official there is abundant gas in the country the only thing we have to work which has been initiated is to replace the old structure of gas supply with new one. One of the main components is laying new pipelines to connect it with main supply line, he claimed.