Eklach Haq: Public transport and CNG-powered auto-rickshaws with expired gas cylinders are running rampant in the capital Dhaka. The use of expired CNG cylinders in these vehicles does not matter. Everyone is indifferent to this. The owner or driver of the vehicle does not have any headache about the matter. Sometimes an accident happens somewhere with a CNG vehicle or at a CNG station, but later everyone forgets about it. Millions of CNG powered autorickshaws are running in Dhaka city alone. Besides, there are CNG powered private cars and public transport.
If you want to know about this, the public transport expert professor Dr. Buet. Shamsul Haque said, there should be more responsible supervision system regarding CNG powered vehicles. We note that many of the CNGs that become old in Dhaka are used again in rural areas, but there is still a risk. They put common people at risk by using them. Those responsible for these controls must work hard. If any incident occurs, the responsibility ends with the investigation committee. Instead of doing that, technical people should be made to work. Punishment should be in place for major accidents. Otherwise the investigation will stop. Nothing can be done depending on bureaucrats. Work for the people. Those who are not in higher positions should have the mentality to work with ethics. Dhaka is a megacity, there are lots of people and lots of cars. If there is a storm then it will create a terrible situation. CNG bursts in accidents. This level of risk should be regulated by those who have approved it. As they don't have the manpower they should move to digital technology.
Passengers ride in vehicles across the country at the risk of numerous expired and substandard cylinders. Cylinders should be retested after five years. But most of the owners or drivers do not know anything about this. Every public transport plying in Dhaka is like a ticking bomb. Public transport has become a death pit due to lack of regular gas cylinder testing. Analysts say the situation could get worse if strict vigilance is not done now. Gas cylinders are being used in most of the vehicles in the capital to save fuel. These gas cylinders used in buses, trucks, private cars, CNG autorickshaws, pickup vans, Laguna. The explosion of these gas cylinders that are unsuitable for use is expected to cause massive damage to people and vehicles in any major accident.
Experts say that these cylinders have become a serious risk due to expired substandard and non-retesting on time. Regulatory body SB is putting the blame on BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority). There are about 5 lakh CNG vehicles in the country. Among them, at least 70 percent of the vehicles use the same cylinder for more than five years. These vehicles are plying the roads and highways without re-examination.
Experts also say that accidents occur due to lack of awareness and lack of enforcement of expired cylinders. Because car owners are as diligent in using cylinders to reduce fuel consumption as they are careless in maintenance. Due to which small and big accidents happen sometimes. According to the capacity of gas pressure, the life of the cylinder is considered to be 10 to 15 years. The rule is that all types of cylinders should be checked every 5 years. But that doesn't happen. Besides, almost everyone knows that passengers have to stay at a safe distance while taking gas in the car. But knowing the risk of death, this is a silent competition to break the rules. From autorickshaws to private cars, many people do not get off the vehicle while getting gas. Along with increasing public awareness, experts are suggesting stricter enforcement of the law.
Energy experts say that the most important thing to be taken care of while filling gas in the cylinder is that the gas does not leak. Because gas leaks around while filling. That's the explosion. This fuel can be used at half or less cost than conventional fuel. Hence many authorized and unauthorized CNG conversion companies have sprung up all over the place. There are also complaints of unskilled workers, whose wages are being paid by the common people.
Last October 14, three people were killed on the spot when a cylinder exploded while taking gas in a bus in Loipur. At least 20 people were injured. Some of them had their hands and feet amputated. Earlier, a bus cylinder exploded while taking gas from the Green Life filling station located on the side of the Dhaka-Lakshipur Regional Highway.
The drivers said that the owners never tell us to check the cylinder or test the cylinder. Owners provided car we just drive. If the sand accumulates, the fielder is cleaned but not the cylinder. Should check but don't know how to do it. Source: Inkilab
