PESHAWAR, June 27: A number of gas consumers have complained against the working of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).
“I have been depositing my bills regularly but the company disconnected gas supply to my house and took away the meter with them,” said a resident of University Town. According to him, he visited the company’s office for many times but in vain. The enraged consumer said he also showed his all bills to the officials which had been deposited in bank in due time. As a last resort, he said, he gave bribe to a person in billing section who reconnected his gas supply.
Another person at the premises of the company’s office alleged that gas supply to his house located in Shaheen Town was disconnected on account of nonpayment of bills. He said he rushed to the SNGPL office in scorching heat with all the bills he had deposited.
“I checked the record with the official concerned in billing section and showed him the bills which were not paid in due time but the amount was in excess than consumed gas,” he said, adding that he was told that the amount he had deposited in excess would be compensated in next bills and that bills would not be sent to him till the excess money was exhausted. Ironically, he said the SNGPL was still sending bills to him for which he had visited the office twice every month.
There are strange stories at the gas office. In one case a person living in Board area said he was not receiving his bills since installation of the meter in January. According to him, he was using the commodity without receiving any bills. Many visitors complained of getting inflated bills.
“I went to this office fearing that one day I would get huge bill. But before it happens, I went to the office to locate my previous bills but the record at the office showed that I have not installed a gas meter,” he said.
Another victim of the SNGPL, Ashraf Ali said he had been depositing his bills every month. All the bills do not carry the meter readings which could give him an idea about his consumption. “My several requests in this regard have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The list of anomalies is too long. The people run from pillar to post to get their bills rectified. The aged people are the worst sufferers who visit the office five floors high, but the poor response they get from the officials is regrettable.
The installation of meters is another issue which haunts consumers. Normally, the officials hand over the meters to the subscribers which are installed by the consumers themselves. As a matter of rule, it is the responsibility of the department to arrange for the same.
An official of the SNGPL when contacted termed all charges as baseless and cooked up.
