Protest held against CNG closure

Station owners in Hazara appeal to SNGPL to reconsider its decision

ABBOTABAD:

CNG station owners in Abbottabad and Mansehra staged a protest in front of Abbottabad Press Club against the closure of the gas stations on Friday.

They said that the decision of closing of gas stations was totally wrong which had created unemployment as most of the public transport vehicles were running on CNG. They appealed to the government to reconsider its decision.

On the request of General Manager Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Hazara region, the Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad on Friday closed all Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations of district Abbottabad under Section 144 till January 20 to facilitate the masses.

After the drop in temperatures and severe cold in Abbottabad district, it is very difficult to cater to the need of domestic users, said the deputy commissioner Abbottabad.

From January 6 to January 20, all CNG stations in Abbottabad District would remain closed. Earlier, during the month of December 2021, the SNGPL Hazara region issued a load management plan in a bid to facilitate the domestic consumer and allowed CNG stations of the region to operate for 7 hours a day from 9 am to 4 pm.

Tourists’ entry banned

Galyat Development Authority (GDA) and district administration Abbottabad Saturday closed both entry points of Galyat due to heavy snowfall and land sliding.

GDA spokesperson Ahsan Hameed said that during the four days, Galyat has received more than three feet of snow besides blockade of road for vehicular traffic due to landslide at Kundla.

Life comes to a halt

Heavy snowfall has completely paralysed life in Abbottabad city where the temperature fell below the freezing point.

At least two feet snow was reported in Nathiagali, Ayubia, Changla Gali, Donga Gali, Bara Gali and Thandyiani while on the upper hilly areas of Galyat three feet snow was reported.

According to the Met office, snowfall which was started on Wednesday and will continue till Saturday (today). Abbottabad Murree Road has been closed for traffic from different points while a number of link road in the district were also interrupted.

Galyat Development Authority (GDA) Spokesman Ahsan Hameed said that Abbottabad to Murree Road has been blocked for all sort of traffic due to land sliding at Kundla and advised the tourists to remain cautious during their movement between Tohidabad and Dunga Gali.

He added that snow removing machinery of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority and GDA is on standby in the area where engineering staff will start their operation after a break in snowfall.

GDA Director General Raza Ali Habib in his video message said that GDA has made all out arrangements in Galyat to facilitate tourists. “Over 100,000 tourists have so far visited Galyat. Tourists should check the GDA website for road clearance,” he added.

Road from Abbottabad to Thandyiani is closed from Kala Panni onward Thandyiani where at least three feet snow has been reported.

Light snowfall was also recorded in the surrounding hills of Abbottabad city. Electricity supply in the entire district was badly interrupted throughout the day which has added to the miseries of the people during this freezing temperatures.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2022.