Editorial
Excruciating loss of time
More CNG filling stations are a dire necessity
The woes of owners of CNG fuelled vehicles have now taken a nightmarish proportion. The long serpentine queues before the filling stations are a mirror-image of the inordinate delay incurred in getting their transports, not quite filled with gas, but perhaps a ration of the fuel. The fall in gas pressure and sudden power outages are impeding delivery of service. So much so that after a long wait of two hours when one reaches the end of the queue the electric supply might be suddenly snapped leaving the customer totally frustrated. It is certainly upsetting the work schedules of most CNG converted car owners. Vital man hours are being lost to the scramble for gas. For most car owners it is a matter of both grave concern and stress. There are fewer gas stations than the speed at which vehicles have been converted to CNG owing to rising gasoline prices. We fully endorse the view expressed by the CNG Filling and Workshop Conversion Association that unless a large number of new filling stations are set up on an urgent basis the already chaotic situation may turn worse. It is our understanding that the major problem standing in the way of setting up CNG filling stations relates to bureaucratic red tape. It's baffling to note that an entrepreneur has to cross ten stages involving as many agencies before he can install a CNG filling station. We urge the administration to address this issue of considerable public interest and concern on an urgent footing. Let the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company (RPCGL) (natural gas conversion company) which is entrusted with the responsibility of facilitating opening of new filling stations including regulating their operations be appropriately empowered to deliver goods. We would prefer a one-stop service for granting permission to set up the facility to rather cumbersome multi-layered procedures now in existence. Our belief is that the present government will address this public interest issue with the seriousness it deserves and facilitate setting up of more CNG filling stations at suitable locations.
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