Public safety: Plea against CNG use in public transport dismissed

LHC accepts transporters’ plea that Ogra guidelines are followed in cylinder installation.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition against the use of substandard gas cylinders in public transport vehicles, after it was told that the cylinders were being installed under Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) guidelines.

At the onset of the hearing, an office bearer of the Transport Owners’ Association told the court that the CNG cylinders were being installed at the back of vehicles rather than their roofs, which would minimise blast incidents. He asked the court to instruct the police and other departments not to harass public transport vehicles. A law officer representing Ogra endorsed the steps adopted by the transporters themselves.

After hearing both sides, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial disposed of the petitions and directed the respondents not to harass transporters.

The court was hearing a petition stating that the Ministry of Petroleum had allowed the use of CNG in commercial vehicles without setting standards for gas equipment or setting up an inspection regime.

The petitioner claimed that a school van fire in Gujranwala on May 25 in which several school children were killed was the result of a sub-standard cylinder and the use of petrol in portable cans.

The petitioner added that the Punjab Transport Authority and the DIG (Traffic) had a duty to check all commercial vehicles and issue them fitness certificates. He said motorcycle rickshaws also routinely carried more passengers than their capacity and this could cause fatal accidents.

He asked the court to stop the use of CNG in commercial vehicles and to stop the operation of motorcycle rickshaws till appropriate safety measures could be taken. He also asked the court to declare rickshaw parking stands at Thokar Niaz Beg illegal.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2013.