May 6, 2005	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1426

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LAHORE, May 5: In a major administrative shakeup, the City District Government Lahore has transferred all the Lahore Development Authority building inspectors, besides taking stringent measures against illegal LPG sale depots.

District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood has ordered an immediate closure of all unlicensed LPG filling, distribution and sale points in the city district, and a ban on its re-filling in cylinders and use in rickshaws.

He has also ordered a ban on production, storage and sale of fireworks under the provisions of the Section 144 CrPC and transfer of the LDA building inspectors for allowing violations of bylaws in the construction of the buildings, which collapsed in the recent gas cylinders’ blasts.

The nazim announced these measure during his meetings with the representatives of the gas cylinder manufacturers, distributors and retailers, fireworks manufacturers and retailers, and rickshaw drivers at the Jinnah Hall. He also presided over an LDA meeting here on Thursday.

He said the CDGL would not allow LPG in rickshaws because the provincial government had allowed the operation of only four-stroke engine CNG rickshaws. Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had announced on Wednesday sale of a four-stroke engine rickshaw for only Rs28,000, and advancing of interest-free loans for their purchase.

A rickshaw driver told him that the LPG was being sold for Rs60 per kilogramme because of closure of the shops.

Mian Amer said those found storing or selling the LPG cylinders and fireworks without licence would be arrested.

There would be a complete ban on the sale of loose petrol within the city limits in view of existence of a sizable number of petrol pumps. Sale and storage of diesel would, however, be allowed in rural areas.

He said the CDGL would allow only licensed LPG distributors and retailers with storage facilities prescribed under the law to continue their business in the city. He said licences for LPG distribution and sale would, however, be issued to companies instead of individuals after inspection of the sale and storage facilities.

The local government would not only check the unlicensed sale and storage of LPG, but also keep an eye on substandard gas cylinders. LPG Distributors Association President Rana Muhammad Arshad said all the cylinders recovered from the Allama Iqbal Town building, which had recently collapsed and left 30 people dead, were intact. It meant that the accident had not taken place because of bursting of any cylinder, he claimed.

Explosives inspector Haroon Rehman was of the view that the accident had taken place when the LPG leaking from cylinders during refilling caught fire and caused an explosion.

He said only four companies had been issued licences for filling of LPG cylinders, but unauthorized re-filling took place at a number of places in view of its growing demand.

According to LPG association representative Irfan Khokhar, the licensed companies filled the gas cylinders under open sheds with high roofs.

Another distributors association official, Mian Liaquat Ali, said there was no LPG cylinders’ godown in the collapsed building, but gas was refilled in small cylinders.

A Wak Gas representative said 30 companies were engaged in manufacturing of gas cylinders according to standard specification. However, he said, substandard cylinders were also being marketed in large numbers.

Later, the nazim also said manufacturing, sale and storage of fireworks would not be allowed in the city district because all the licences issued for the purpose, save one, had expired and yet to be renewed.

He also announced immediate cancellation of valid licences as well.

LDA: Mian Amer said he had ordered transfer of the LDA building inspectors on being informed during a meeting that more than 50 buildings had been built in violation of bylaws in Allama Iqbal Town area.