<i>48 CNG stations disregard rules</i>
Vehicles wait in a long queue on the busy CDA Avenue to refuel at a nearby compressed natural gas (CNG) station.
Out of 56 CNG filling stations, as many as 48 are facing notice for developing structures without or in deviation of approved plan in the port city. Constructed in violation of building construction rules they seriously hamper vehicular movement and cause environmental degradation as well, sources said. Besides, without having required clearance from the authorities concerned these CNG stations also run the risk of accidents and pose a threat to life and properties, they said. The joint forces formed a traffic management committee to formulate a set of rules to remove mismanagement and ensure development of CNG stations. The committee at a meeting at Bangladesh Military Academy on May 8 formed a 12-member committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Mofazzel Hossain to set up a one-stop service for the CNG station owners. At present 33 CNG filling stations are operational and 23 are under the process of construction, sources said. Of 33 stations, only three have clearances from the authorities concerned and are set up properly with approved design, said the sources. They are Navana CNG of Cricketer Akram Khan near Wasw, Shykat CNG at Halishahar PC Road and Speed Track CNG at Zakir Hossain Road. Of five other filling stations, two are under Chittagong Cantonment Board; two are yet to go for construction while another submitted plan for approval, said the sources in Chittagong Development Authority (CDA). Of 48 filling stations, 20, including 12 operational ones, do not have any approved plan, 16 have deviated approved plans, one initiates construction at different place while one has failed to go for construction before the time expired, they said. Of 12 operational CNG stations set up illegally without having any approved plan, three had cases against them in the court. Of these three, Southern CNG of Arakan Road (near Bahodderhat) faces case in the High Court while CNG Station of Chittagong City Corporation and Messers Four Star Refuelling Station of Kadamtali intersection have been sued for posing threat to public safety and environment. Messers Four Star Refuelling Station has restored operation taking connection from Bakharabad Gas System Limited (BGSL) despite having a case under trial and a portion already demolished by CDA for ignoring building construction rules, sources said. Magistrate Maniruzzaman, member secretary of the committee, said the committee at a meeting on May 22 discussed the rules one should follow during construction of a CNG station. The rules aim at ensuring that the CNG stations follow CDA master plan, have minimum quantity of land and permission from the authorities like Department of Environment, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Department of Explosive, Traffic Department, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, BGSL and CDA. Maniruzzaman said the rules will help check mismanagement and disorders in CNG stations and unplanned development that cause traffic congestion in the city. He said there are many allegations against the CNG stations for disregarding rules. “We very often start up and fear for explosion when loud sound come from the CNG conversion centre at the down stair,” said Mushfiqur Rahman a student of Premier University that sits on the CCC CNG Refuelling station and Conversion center at Dampara. In absence of monitoring many of these CNG stations without having Nasals (dispensers) of required diameter also deprive the consumers through faulty measurement, alleged Shamsur Rahman Manzur, a businessmen of Muradpur area.
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