RAWALPINDI, Jan 16: Dangerous and unlawful decanting of highly inflammable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) continues unchecked in the city that can result in a serious accident.

A survey conducted by Dawn found that the malpractice is most prevalent in the thickly populated poor localities where piped gas is not available.

Authorised companies supply LPG in 11.8 and 15.0 kilogramme cylinders only. Dealers are required to obtain decanting licences from the Executive District Officer (EDO), Revenue, if they want to retail it in smaller quantities. But a large number of them carry on the business without permission.

Price of LPG has increased. An 11.8-kg cylinder which used to sell for Rs571 till recently now costs Rs622.

Since the poor cannot afford a standard-size cylinder, the sale of LPG in small quantities has been growing and with that the illegal decanting shops.

They charge Rs50 per kilogramme of LPG.

These shops use substandard cylinders and decant LPG by unorthodox means, such as the so-called ‘donkey pumps’, without observing any security measures prescribed by law.

Most of such decanters run their shops near mechanics’ workshops or hotels at Pirwadhai, Asghar Mall and adjoining areas.

District Officer Civil Defence Raja Liaqat, whose office was previously responsible for controlling illegal decanting, told Dawn that the menace should be checked strictly as accidents at LPG shops had proved fatal in the past.

Even some authorised dealers do not comply with the security measures, he said.

Under the law, the officer said, LPG decanting and storage facilities should be in single-storey buildings, away from workshops and hotels, and with fire fighting equipment and training.

The fact that almost all the decanters are uneducated and untrained makes the business even more risky and perilous, said Mr Liaqat.

He said the Civil Defence had launched a campaign against the illegal business when it had the authority but it ended up in smoke owing to political intervention that prevented police action.

The net outcome of that operation was that the supervisory authority over the LPG sale business was taken away from the Civil Defence department and delegated to EDO Revenue.

When contacted EDO Revenue Jamal Mustafa Syed said his office issued licenses for LPG distributors and acted against illegal decanting.

“We are trying hard to curb this dangerous practice but public awareness is a must in this regard,” he said.