CHARSADDA/SWABI: The district administration in Charsadda on Monday ordered closure of CNG stations during the morning and evening hours as residents of various localities took to the streets against gas loadshedding.

The decision to shut the filling stations was taken at a meeting chaired by Charsadda District Nazim Fahad Azam Khan. Officials of SNGPL and owners of CNG pumps were in attendance.

It was decided that CNG stations would remain closed from 6am to 8am in the morning and 4pm to 6pm in the evening to ensure smooth flow of gas to domestic consumers. The filling station owners were directed to abide by the order.

Meanwhile, the people of Sherpao and Ziam areas staged protest demonstrations against gas loadshedding. The protesters came on the roads despite rain and chanted slogans against the government.

They set tyres on fire to block the Peshawar-Islamabad Road for more than five hours. They accused the gas in-charge Charsadda of taking bribe from CNG stations to ensure smooth supply to them.

Meanwhile, Charsadda deputy commissioner told mediapersons that smooth supply of gas to households would be ensured.

In Swabi, irked by gas loadshedding and low pressure the residents demanded of the authorities to ensure smooth supply in the winter season. The consumers also complained that the SNGPL was sending them inflated gas bills.

Talking to reporters, they pointed out that first they suffered hardship in getting gas connections, and now they were sustaining gas suspension in the cold weather.

Fida Mohammad of Baja village said the SNGPL had started gas loadshedding in the peak morning and evening hours.

Zulfiqar Ali of the same village said consumers had repeatedly lodged complaints of gas outages with the relevant officials, but they did nothing beyond the verbal assurances.

The hotel owners in the district and four tehsil headquarters also complained about gas loadshedding. They said there was no announced schedule for gas suspension.

“Instead of facilitating the poor consumers the SNGPL has made lives of the citizens miserable,” lamented Ahmad Ali of Swabi city.

When contacted, an official of SNGPL said there was problem of pressure in winter but there were also reports that a number of consumers were sharing their supply of gas with neighbours, which had complicated the matter.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2017