A strict accountability system will ensure that transporters realise their responsibility towards the people.
ISLAMABAD: The Gujrat van accident is another gruesome reminder that whenever there is an incident of such nature, everybody at the helm of affairs makes tall claims about plugging loopholes in the system and implementing rules and regulations in letter and in spirit, but with the passage of time, everyone conveniently forgets all the pledges made.
Ever since the rise in diesel prices, transporters have started looking for other options when it comes to the use of fuel for their vehicles. For this purpose, they buy old engines that are not compatible with their vehicles and then use cheap, sub-standard CNG cylinders and gas kits, thus risking the lives of passengers without reducing the fares. This has led to many unfortunate accidents.
As far as obtaining fitness certificate for vehicles are concerned, that has not proven to be a problem for transporters, as there have been cases where vehicles have received fitness certificates without being produced for the required inspection. The following steps may help in reducing the number of accidents caused due to sub-standard CNG cylinders in vehicles:
1) Conversion of engines from diesel to petrol must be stopped forthwith;
2) CNG stations should only fill gas in those vehicles which have factory-fitted petrol engines. This can help in not only reducing the number of accidents but can also help in reducing the burden that there currently is on our natural gas resources;
3) CNG stations should be forbidden from filling gas in those vehicles that do not have a cylinder inspection certificate from the department concerned;
4) For the safety of the citizens, the government should consider subsidising diesel rates;
5) Above all, what we need is accountability. We have a department for everything, whether it is vehicle inspection, gas cylinder inspection, quality control etc., but despite their presence, rules are hardly ever followed. A strict accountability system will ensure that transporters realise their responsibility towards the people and do not indulge in activities that can endanger their lives.
Khalid Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2013.
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