Supply of gas to 176 consumers cut for two months

Rawalpindi

The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has caught 176 gas compressors and cut down supply of violators for two months in different localities here in city and cantonment board areas on Sunday.

The SNGPL faced strong resistance by violators but field staff continued operation with the help of police. The violator also pelted stones on SNGPL staff members here at Adiala Road, Dhoke Juma, Pirwadhai, Munawar Colony and Gulistan Colony where gas pressure was already low.

SNGPL General Manager (Rawalpindi Circle) Muhammad Zahoor, who was in-charge of operation, has admitted that people of some areas are facing low gas pressure in severe cold weather. He told ‘The News’ that user of gas compressors are usurping the rights of other consumers. “I have directed for taking strict legal action against the users of compressors, particularly in homes,” he claimed.

He said that some areas were facing low to zero gas pressure because of use of compressors in homes. “We would also impose fines and register FIRs against the users of compressor in homes,” he warned. He said that people of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are facing freezing weather for some days, therefore, SNGPL is facing problem to meet the demand. We are expecting that the public will cooperate in this situation and refrain from using compressors, he said.

He said that using a compressor is not only illegal but a dangerous practice, which has resulted in persistent shortage of gas in many localities. He appealed to consumers not to waste gas and requested them to put off their stoves after cooking food.

He also warned to start registering FIR in next phase against sellers of compressors. We are raiding different markets where gas compressors are being sold in the city and cantonment board localities.

It has been learnt that the majority of consumers using compressors are residing in Adiala, Defence Road, Dhoke Juma, Tulsa, Pirwadhai, Tench Bhata, Lalkurti, Gulshanabad, Rawat, Mukha Singh Estate, Bakramandi, Dhoke Kalhoor, Al-Mumtaz Colony, City Saddar Road, Kohati Bazaar, Arya Mohallah, Girja Road, Gulistan Colony, Hazara Colony, Dhoke Paracha, Dhoke Kashmirian, Sadiqabad and several other localities which has resulted in low to zero gas pressures in these areas.

The violators buy gas compressors from Dingi Khoi, Mitho Khan Ahata in Saddar, Pirwadhai and Dhoke Syedan.

Talking to ‘The News’ people belong to different walks of life said that SNGPL should continue operation against user of gas compressors on daily basis. They have also appealed to SNGPL to provide gas pressure to consumer equally as some of areas having good pressure but some are not.