LAHORE – CNG stations in residential areas of the city are creating nuisance for the neighbouring houses, as long vehicle queues often block the houses’ entrances, Pakistan Today has learnt.
A number of CNG stations in the city are located in the residential areas. These localities include Garden Town, Iqbal Town, College Road, Peco Road and Johar Town. People said often they found it difficult to enter their houses at night, when CNG stations start filing vehicles.
People residing next to CNG stations said often their houses’ main gates were blocked because of vehicle queues and they had to wait inside till it was cleared. “My home is situated next to a CNG station. It has become a routine for the last two weeks that I have to park my car outside owing to a long queue in front of my house,” said Jamal Haider, a resident of Peco Road, adding that he had often complained to the station’s owner but he too was helpless. He said when the authorities issue licenses to CNG stations they should consider such factors as well.
“The mushroom growth of CNG stations has also decreased gas pressure for domestic users,” he lamented. Sami Ullah, another resident, said “It is dangerous to live next to a CNG station. There was a minor blast some months ago in the CNG station next to my house. I feel threatened, as a bigger blast can happen as well.”
Nazar Muhammad, a Garden Town resident, said that there was no problem during the day time but he does not get a place to park his car during late hours. He said the city district government should look into the matter. He said he had exchanged harsh words with the station’s owner and will sell his house if the situation persisted.
Property dealers said majority of buyers abstained from buying homes near CNG stations or petrol pumps. “They buyers say they don’t want to live in a house next to a CNG station, as long queues block the entry and there exists a fire or a blast threat as well,” said a property of dealer, Malik Mukhtar.
As many as 77 percent of the car owners use CNG as fuel while 81 percent of whom claimed to face problem in its supply. It was found in recently held survey by Gallup Pakistan, affiliated with Gallup International Association. A sample size of 2,741 men and women in rural and urban areas of all four provinces were chosen. The survey was conducted in December 2010. Error margin is estimated to be approx. 2-3 per cent at 95% confidence level.
