DESPITE the government’s announcement of snapping all illegal gas connections by last December, about 136 kilometers of gas pipe lines and above 22, 000 burners are still remaining illegally. Earlier the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry formed a committee to give directives to cut all illegal gas lines. However, the directives have not been carried out even after one month more. Vested officials of gas supply companies are actively doing the illegal connection business posing high public insecurity and causing loss to the national exchequer.
The Energy Division identified about 716 kilometers of gas pipelines and 32, 7608 burners connected illegally last year. The Division then directed the committee to remove all of those unlawful connections by December 31, 2020. As per the directions, about 580 kilometers illegal gas pipe lines were disconnected and nearly 325,559 burners were removed without any legal authorization.
A recent report of the Energy Division revealed that about 128 kilometers illegal pipeline connections have remained under the Titas Gas Company alone. Besides, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company has eight kilometers of illegal gas connections. On the other hand, Titas gas has 21854 and the Bakrabad Company 195 illegal burners till now.
In the past, the dishonest people set up illegal burners in the main pipelines, but nowadays, they set up illegal pipelines first and then the burners. Local political thugs in connection with officials exploit the natural resources and set illegal gas connection in households in slums and informal settlements. Only administrative alertness cannot stop the stealing, a true political commitment and action is needed in this regard. Besides, responsible officials should be booked under legal scanner. Awareness campaigns and easy connection procedures can help tremendously to stop illegal gas lines at consumers’ level. Strict enforcement of laws, popularisation of alternative power source, clean and affordable energy and behavioural change to stop energy waste might help the country in securing power security.
The Energy Division identified about 716 kilometers of gas pipelines and 32, 7608 burners connected illegally last year. The Division then directed the committee to remove all of those unlawful connections by December 31, 2020. As per the directions, about 580 kilometers illegal gas pipe lines were disconnected and nearly 325,559 burners were removed without any legal authorization.
A recent report of the Energy Division revealed that about 128 kilometers illegal pipeline connections have remained under the Titas Gas Company alone. Besides, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company has eight kilometers of illegal gas connections. On the other hand, Titas gas has 21854 and the Bakrabad Company 195 illegal burners till now.
In the past, the dishonest people set up illegal burners in the main pipelines, but nowadays, they set up illegal pipelines first and then the burners. Local political thugs in connection with officials exploit the natural resources and set illegal gas connection in households in slums and informal settlements. Only administrative alertness cannot stop the stealing, a true political commitment and action is needed in this regard. Besides, responsible officials should be booked under legal scanner. Awareness campaigns and easy connection procedures can help tremendously to stop illegal gas lines at consumers’ level. Strict enforcement of laws, popularisation of alternative power source, clean and affordable energy and behavioural change to stop energy waste might help the country in securing power security.
