AS the pipeline gas supply connection for household use remains blocked by the government for few years and growing number of vehicles are being converted to CNG-fuelled, the quality and safety of the cylinders used for containing gas are very poor and hence a matter of serious concern too. A vernacular daily on Friday reported that there is 20 lakh liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in the country while some three lakh vehicles so far use compressed natural gas cylinders. But the quality of the LPG and CNG cylinders is not maintained strictly. Thus most of the gas cylinders are potentially ready-to-blast bombs. It seems neither the Energy Ministry nor the private companies are cautious about it. After blasting of 300 cylinders in a Bogra warehouse on last Saturday, the Ministry asked Explosive Directorate to go through safety test of all LPG cylinders, a laudable step though belated one but it needs to be a regular exercise.Apart from the LPG cylinders, the gas burners, and other materials used to provide gas connections have been found sub-standard. So that gas spillage from the connecting pipes sometimes triggers fire. It is reported that at least three people were killed and 13 others sustained injuries in LPG cylinders blast this year. In the absence of effective monitoring, LPG traders are conducting business with utter disregard to safety norms resulting in accidents not infrequently.Following the Bogra incident last week, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has started examining LPG cylinders and found that some 75-80 percent of the tested cases are unsafe to use. It simply passes signals to be must worried. LPG cylinders are very commonly used in the household as a cooking gas and also as fuel in motor vehicles. If Bogra case is taken as an eye-opener, then there are real dangers in using substandard gas cylinders. What is surprising is that the Explosive Directorate basing on documents provided by LPG companies issue certify to sell the cylinders without going through any practical test.With the increase in population and rapid urbanization LPG consumption is increasing. It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to supervise and monitor the activities of LPG traders. The errant ones should be identified and punished. The companies and BPC should immediately withdraw all the substandard gas cylinders from the market and households to ensure safety of public life. It is also equally important to educate the public, particularly housewives, about the safety precautions required in handling the gas cylinders and enforce strict guidelines for standard use and cautionary measures to be followed by the suppliers and users equally.
