HARIPUR, Dec 31: Illegal LPG gas cylinders fitted in a number of passenger vehicles in Haripur have become a threat to the lives of commuters travelling by these vehicles.

The government agencies which are supposed to check such illegal practices seem to be oblivious of this violation.

The owners of private transport vehicles, particularly Suzuki and Datsuns pick-ups, had got converted their vehicles to these dangerous low-cost LPG kits rather than CNG kits, on the pretext of high POL prices. They were least bother about risk to lives passengers.

According to statistics collected from independent sources, over 70 per cent of pick-ups plying on various inter-city routs are fitted with these local kits. A driver told Dawn that an LPG kit was available for Rs4,000 to Rs4,500 in Haripur and any one could easily get his vehicle converted to gas with an additional nominal cost on an ordinary portable cylinder and a regulator for merely Rs 1500. While an imported CNG kit of standard quality was available for Rs25,000 to Rs280,00, he added.

LPG gas cylinders are usaully fitted in passengers compartment between the seats exposing commuters lives to great danger.

Cylinder leakages could blow up the whole vehicle killing all passengers on spot if someone lit a cigarette, feared Iqbal of village Sera-e-Saleh.

These local kits are manufactured in Haripur illegally costing only Rs 500 and installed for Rs4,000 to Rs4,500.

“How can we afford to purchase a CNG kit of Rs 25,000 or in other case foot the heavy bills of petrol or diesel when the fares allowed to us are inequitable to our expenses”, said a vehicle owner Ikram justifying his decision as the economical one in terms of his savings. Vehicle covered 10 km per half kilogramme of LPG which costed Rs24 while the cost is doubled and tripled in case of CNG petrol respectively, he added.

He said, despite the fact that he and his colleagues realized the risk to the lives of passengers and also their vehicles, they were obliged to do so owing to the wide difference between their incomes and inputs.