ISLAMABAD: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited(SNGPL) is frustrated with no legal ground to arrest rising trend of gas compressor usage by domestic consumers, who allegedly resort to the lethal and illegal practice in winter season.
"There is deluge of complaints from certain areas where people resort to unlawful and lethal practice of installing machines to suck gas from pipelines, which is one of the reasons for the low gas pressure, but the utility's concerned officials are scratching their heads as to which part of any legal document be invoked against the detrimental practice," an official of the company told APP.
Replying to a question, the official said people were reluctant to tip off with complete information, fearing social problems to initiate departmental action against those involved in unethical practice, adding all these things result in inaction on the part of the company coupled with non-existence of relevant law.
However, the SNGPL spokesman said the a team had been constituted to visit the affected areas and added, the consumers were needed to cooperate and avoid unnecessary use of gas appliances during low gas pressure duration.
He said the issue was temporary and gas pressure would improve as temperature go up in coming months.
He said with intensity of clod, the gap had widened in supply and demand, creating this problem.
He was of the view that since Islamabad and Rawalpindi region was lying at the tail end of the system, residents were facing the low gas pressure issue.
Replying to a question, he was of the view the local authorities was needed to take action against business forces that were invoked in selling these compressors in open markets.
The total consumption of domestic consumers of twin cities stands at 100 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in summer season while during winter season it goes up to 280 mmcfd.
The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited(SNGPL) required 400 mmcfd for domestic consumers and the CNG sector while it is getting only 220 mmcfd gas supply.
He also urged the consumers to adopt safety measures while using gas appliances to avoid untoward incidents.
An SNGPL spokesman said that each year several gas related accidents occurred in different areas, particularly during the winter season.
He urged the gas consumers to follow precautionary measures such as frequent checking of gas service lines and immediate repair in case of gas leakage.
He added that the people should avoid using rubber pipes for gas appliances as standard gas equipment and pipes could curtail the ratio of critical incidents.
Stressing the safe use of heaters, he said that the windows of a room should be kept open when the gas heater was turned on and the same be switched off before going to bed.
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