PESHAWAR: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited has blocked a 40 kilometers illegal pipeline in the provincial capital and thus, disconnecting supply to more than 8,000 houses.

The action comes as the gas utility launches an operation to check gas theft and line losses in the province.

A spokesman for the SNGPL said on Thursday that special teams had been formed across the region to crack down on illegal gas networks, direct connections, gas meters either tampered with or reversed, and supply to the illegal private housing societies.

He said the raids were carried out in parts of Peshawar, including Pishtakhara, Achini, Sarband and Regi areas and villages located on Kohat Road, and thus, leading to the disconnection of more than 40km illegal pipeline laid to feed more than 8,000 illegal gas connections.

Operation launched across province to check gas theft, line losses

The spokesman said during the operation, supply to 5,380 meters tampered with was disconnected before they’re replaced, while 57 FIRs had been lodged against culprits.

He said the gas supply to small and medium sized, privately-developed housing societies had also been disconnected, while teams had been deployed to monitor industrial and commercial gas connections.

The spokesman said owners of 96 commercial gas connections, including three industrialists, were fined for gas theft.

He said the operation had also been carried out in southern districts of the province, including Karak, Hangu, Lakki Marwat, Tank and DI Khan, wherein illegal gas connections of 34 plaster of Paris industries and 37 other commercial units, including power generation units, hotels, bakeries and small industries, were disconnected before the registration of FIRs against culprits.

“More than 4,000 illegal gas connections have been disconnected in southern part of the province resulting in the disconnection of more than 50km illegal supply line laid through unconventional plastic and rubber pipes,” he said.

The spokesman said a operation had also been launched to remove illegal taps used by residents on the high pressure operational pipeline in Karak district, which was supplying gas from Karak to Dera Ismail Khan and Bakkar.

“The operation been carried out with the support of Frontier Constabulary and local police led to the suspension of gas supply to Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, DI Khan and Bakkar,” he said.

About the people’s complaints of low gas pressure, he said 27km main gas supply line was upgraded during the execution of Bus Rapid Transit project, while 32km transmission line was recently laid in Peshawar addressing the complaints of low gas pressure by 90 per cent and increased pressure of the gas supplied to the Industrial Estate Economic Zone.

The spokesman said the chief minister appreciated the work of the SNGPL during the recent inauguration of the transmission line in Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2019