After a grand operation by special raiding teams of Civil Defence plants found illegally decanting Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) have been sealed and issued final warnings. Following the special instructions of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), special teams of Civil Defence have started a crackdown on LPG cylinder agencies in Rawalpindi and Attock Districts. This was stated by Chief Inspector (CI) Civil Defence Talib Hussain on Wednesday.
He said, under the drive, raids have been conducted in different areas at G.T.Road, Adalia Road, Hasanabadal and Attock. Three illegal oil agencies have been sealed while 85 LPG agencies have been issued notices with final warning to comply with the rules within three days otherwise, the agencies will be sealed.
The agencies have also been instructed to take new No Objection Certificate (NOC) from District Coordination Officer (DCO). Talib Hussain said that operation has been started in Rawalpindi and Attock. Three illegal oil agencies have been sealed in Hasanabadal while cases have also been lodged with the respective police stations. He said action in accordance with the law has also been taken at Adalia Road, Peerwadhai Road, G.T. Road and nearly 50 agencies have been issued final notices as they had no NOC. Strict action against violators is being taken and the agencies found violating rules are being sealed. The FIRs would also be lodged with respective Police Stations on major violation of rules during the campaign and the violators would be sent behind bars, he said. Any authorized agency found transferring gas illegally from one cylinder to other, which is a violation of the rules, would be sealed, he added.
He said action in accordance with the law is being taken against those who are not using approved cylinders and any other cylinder would be confiscated. Hussain said that there are 256 authorised agencies in Rawalpindi district whereas 100 LPG agencies in Attock district. He said according to the rules of OGRA, LPG cylinder agencies cannot be established at basements of any building, near mosques, Imam Bargahs, churches, bus stops, sensitive government installations, hotels, schools and other public places. All LPG cylinder agencies must have fire-extinguishing gadgets, he said and added the agencies not following rules will face legal action. Hussain said that the Punjab government issued directives to Civil Defence Department to launch action against the illegal business of decanting of LPG.
