LAHORE, Dec 9: Scores of rickshaws have been converted to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the provincial metropolis and more continue to be converted against the advice of the environment protection department.

Rickshaw owners are installing LPG kits in their vehicles for avoiding the use of costly petrol. They are preferring conversion to the LPG instead of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) because the LPG kits and cylinders cost around Rs5,000 whereas the CNG kits and cylinders cost a few thousand rupees more. Many rickshaw drivers have also installed mobile oil bottles behind their seats for lubrication of the engines.

The department started advising the rickshaw drivers to switch over to the CNG last year because it was not only environment friendly but also ensured considerable saving against the use of petrol. The department also installed CNG kits in over a dozen rickshaws free-of-cost besides making arrangements for their free maintenance for popularizing the use of the CNG.

The EPD also advised against the use of LPG as fuel in rickshaws because of the risk involved in its use. The LPG being heavier than air tended to settle on ground in the event of leak from the cylinders and could easily catch fire being highly inflammable, whereas no risk was involved in the use of CNG as it was compressed under very high pressure.