KARACHI, Dec 8: Residential consumers are facing low gas pressure problem owing to increasing gas consumption in winter which, coupled with the opening of new CNG stations in residential areas, has reportedly caused gas shortage in some pockets.

A lot of investors are putting up huge capital in the business of CNG stations on 600 square yards plots, especially on roads in Karachi where housing units and schools are also located.

When residents of F.B. Area (Block-13) made a complaint with an official about low pressure, he simply asked the area residents to take up the matter with the SSGCL head office. He stated that the gas pressure has reduced in the pipeline as a sizable load has been transferred to new CNG outlets in the area.

Residents said they had been facing problems in cooking food due to low gas pressure, and their geysers become useless and stop giving hot water when gas pressure falls sharply.

A senior SSGCL official, who asked not to be named, said it was true that low pressure problem had been going on in several residential areas of the mega city, but it was not true that the opening of CNG stations in residential areas is responsible for low pressure.

“The SSGC mainly lays a separate line for gas supply to CNG stations because investors pay a handsome amount for this,” he said, adding “supply of gas to domestic consumers is managed through a different line. The company has allocated separate gas quota for consumers and CNG stations.”

He linked the low gas pressure to old distribution network, but said the company was actively engaged in their rehabilitation. There is no problem of gas pressure in those spots where rehabilitation work is over. Besides, as construction activity is taking place, and more and more apartments are emerging, gas pipelines of one and two inches cannot cater to the requirement of people in such localities.

The official said as various towns are demanding huge money on account of road-cutting charges, it was hampering rehabilitation of old distribution network.

However, the utility has started issuing advertisements, advising consumers how to reduce their high gas bills in winter. The media campaign advises consumers to use geysers only when hot water is needed.

“Perhaps the companies are unaware that there is no fix time for consumers to use hot water in winter,” remarked a residential consumer.

Chairman, CNG Dealers Association, Mr. Abdul Sami Khan, said that the KDA rules allow conversion of land-use for CNG station. However, OGRA allows opening of CNG stations after ascertaining various other conditions, including the reservations by area residents, if any.