Use of CNG in private and commercial vehicles has been augmented due to continuous raise in the prices of petrol. Government has also encouraged use of CNG vehicles and that is why CNG buses and rickshaws have been introduced besides a number of other vehicles including taxis, cars and vans that have been converted on CNG by their owners. If on one hand, CNG is not only economical fuel but also pollution-free, on the other, any carelessness can be injurious for human life. Although the system has been made risk-free to a large extent despite that the users are asked to adopt precautionary measures developed by the concerned authorities. Recently, the cylinder of a CNG rickshaw in Lahore blew up as a result of which three passengers died and another three injured. As far as the newly introduced
According to a report, the number of CNG vehicles throughout Pakistan is about 1.3 million whereas the same number in Karachi is about 5 lacs. This requires attention. There is no record about the CNG-installation centers working in the country. |
CNG rickshaws are concerned, they have many manufacturing complaints about engine and body but the latest incident of blowing up of CNG cylinder indicates that no precautionary measures have been adopted in the preparation/testing of cylinders.
Some two years back, a petrol pump in Nazimabad Karachi started CNG service for consumers. It was probably the first day of its service that a blast occurred in its plant injuring a number of workers of the petrol pump. It was a strong negligence or some flaw in the installation of machinery. Anyhow, after some days closure, the service was started again and by the grace of GOD, no mishap has occurred since then. A similar incident had taken place at a CNG filling station in Defence Society when a car was being filled with CNG. It blew up and a number of vehicles standing around were damaged badly and three people died. All such incidents occur due to either negligence of the filling staff and the vehicle owner or any technical fault. In case of such an incident - besides the loss of life and property - panic is also created. Different rumours are spread and people suffer from various psychological diseases.
On a busy road, at the peak hours, during a traffic jam, if a vehicle blows up with high intensity blast, definitely the drivers of neighbouring automobiles would run leaving their vehicles on the roads, streets, and lanes. Such incidents and happenings are not confined to any terrorist activity or a film scene as the common citizens have been unconcerned regarding their security. The ongoing situation is alarming and disturbing. We as responsible citizens have seized paying attention towards the security of ourselves and others. We are waiting (God forbid) for a large-scale devastation. No doubt, providing security of life and property to a citizen is the responsibility of a government but by fulfilling his own responsibilities, a common citizen can create convenience for himself and others. Sometimes, a petty negligence and laxity becomes the cause of large-scale destruction and loss of life and property.
With the overgrowing demand and rising prices of petrol, CNG was introduced some 20 years ago. In this technology, the natural gas, after being compressed, is used to fulfill the needs of fuel. Due to its compressed nature, it is called Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). After being introduced in Pakistan, CNG became popular initially in the province of Punjab but with the constant escalating petroleum prices, the car owners have been giving preference to CNG on petrol for almost eight years now. The number of petrol-converted-CNG vehicles in Karachi and other big cities of Pakistan have now escalated immensely. Despite rapid increase in the CNG vehicles (both converted and factory fitted), no attention has been paid on precautionary measures under proper planning. After a great rise in CNG vehicles in the entire country including Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpind, Islamabad, the effective precautionary measures have been confined to only relevant code books. For the construction/setting up of a petrol pump or CNG station, in the beginning approval/permission from 15 different departments was needed but in 2006, the ministry of petroleum and natural resources had curtailed the number of departments to only five and all this was done to avoid the prolonged documentation process.
According to CNG rules, after five years of installation of CNG in any of the vehicles, the cylinder’s checking by Hydrocarbon Institute is mandatory. According to experts, due to continuous use, the CNG cylinder can become rusty or perforated. Various nuts and bolts may be loosened. The natural gas, after being compressed, is filled in the cylinder and in case of leakage, chances of fire-catching increase. The experts also warn that during driving, the passengers or driver should not smoke and in such a situation if the cylinder is leaking from any point or it has been rusty then the chances of catching fire are increased manifold. All this can put the life of a vehicle and surrounding vehicles and area in danger. The system of hydrocarbon checking has been introduced for the same purpose so the citizens, after realising their responsibility, get their CNG cylinders checked thoroughly and can be secured from any mishap. For hydrocarbon checking, the Hydrocarbon Institute, a unit of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Government of Pakistan, is located in Korangi Karachi where trained staff examines the condition and working ability of the cylinder with the help of different modern machineries and equipments. The Institute charges nominal fees from people (less than half of what is charged from the CNG stations for testing their cylinders). During this checking, working ability of CNG cylinder, condition of valves, rust in different parts of the cylinder, and unnecessary leakage and outflow of the gas is examined. The checking process of cylinder takes three days and all the phases of examination undergo according to NZ5454 standard. According to experts, the cylinder has the ability of fulfilling of 40 thousand times so its checking after every 5 years has been made obligatory.
According to a report, the number of CNG vehicles throughout Pakistan is about 1.3 million whereas the same number in Karachi is about 5 lacs. This requires attention. There is no record about the CNG-installation centers working in the country. This is the need of the time that the government, on emergency basis, should run a publicity campaign for the awareness of the people. Under this campaign, the CNG users as well as the common people should also be educated about the hydrocarbon checking. At union council or police station level, the record of CNG-installation centers and shops should be maintained. By doing so the government would be able to have a proper and authentic record of all those vehicles which have factory-fitted CNG as well as those vehicles in which CNG kit has been installed after the prices of petrol shot up. After maintaining such a record the concerned authorities would easily remind the vehicle owners, in their greater interest and safety, about the testing of cylinder. Moreover, the staff of CNG stations would also be directed not to fill the vehicles which do not have the certificate issued by the Hydrocarbon Institute regarding the testing of their CNG cylinder. After making the checking of certificates at CNG stations necessary, the citizens can be educated and concerned with this important issue of their life security. But if no attention is paid towards this imperative matter without wasting any time then all such vehicles can adopt the shape of a self created catastrophe which certainly would not be a good omen. There exists everything including law, institutions, and vehicles – the only need is to effectively educate the people and train them how to follow the codes.n
