67 caught for using gas compressors

Rawalpindi

The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), in its crackdown on the illegal use of compressors, has caught 67 violators and disconnected their gas supply for two months as a punishment. 

The concerned authority raided different localities of Rawalpindi where people have been using gas compressors for months.

The SNGPL conducted raids on Bihari Colony, Noor Colony near Khanna Dak, Westridge, Adiala Road, Saddar, Tench Bhata, Kurri Road, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Satellite Town and Pirwadhai where people were illegally using gas compressors. The concerned department disconnected gas supply of violators for two months.

SNGPL General Manager (Rawalpindi) Muhammad Zahoor told ‘The News’ that they would continue crackdown on violators. “Initially, we have disconnected gas supply of violators for two months but the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) could also impose some other penalty against the users of compressors,” he warned. He said that they are following the orders of the high-ups in this regard. He said that the local leadership of PML-N supported them in the crackdown.

The SNGPL general manager said that the violators could not escape because their meters tell the whole story. “We could check gas compressors in homes by seeing gas meters as gas meters are running fast due to the use of gas compressors,” he added. 

According to the SNGPL general manager, the practice is illegal but checking it is a challenge as an overwhelming number of residents are using it. The biggest losers are the residents who are not using it as the compressors suck the gas supply of residents in the neighbourhood.

He suggested to consumers to register complaints in their nearby SNGPL office if they are facing problem of low gas pressure or if their neighbours are using gas compressors. “We will not reveal the name of the complainant. The customer service centre is working round the clock to address the complaints of the consumers and they will reach the spot to check the issue of low gas pressure in the shortest possible time,” he added.

The compressers are used to ensure full pressure of gas even during loadshedding hours. It is an electrical device made by local mechanics and is cheaply available in the market.

A survey conducted by ‘The News’ revealed that a large number of domestic consumers and commercial users in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have installed compressors on their gas supply lines that suck and compress gas from the supply networks, supplying the desired gas pressure in the kitchen and ensuring provision of gas even during loadshedding hours.

Though the application of the new method has ensured gas in homes but consumers without compressors have been deprived of gas supply as the compressor sucks the gas and leaves nothing for houses, situated near a residence using a compressor.

The price of the compressor in the market ranges from Rs2,500 to Rs4,500, but consumers who cannot purchase the device are using an alternative device fitted in refrigerators with one end fitted in the gas supply line and another plugged in to a power cable.