Gas pipeline leak in Sirsa: Safety rules ignored, agency incurs loss of over Rs 10L

A significant gas pipeline leak recently occurred on the Kanganpur Road in Bharat Nagar, causing serious concerns about safety and compliance of rules. After leakage, the pipeline allegedly burst due to negligence of the Gujarat Gas Agency as it neither sought permissions from the Municipal Council nor the Public Health Department for the digging work to address the problem.

Inexperienced workers were deployed, who drilled holes into the 6-inch, four-layer iron pipeline without proper expertise. Gas leaked out completely from a 6-km-long main line, resulting in a loss of over around Rs 10 lakh to the company. If the leak hadn’t occurred, the supply could have lasted for a week.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the Gujarat Gas Agency called an expert team from Amritsar to repair the damage. The team will replace the damaged sections and reconnect the pipeline. Alarmingly, the workers even removed the warning signs placed on the pipeline, increasing the risk of a catastrophic accident. Fortunately, no sparks were generated during drilling; otherwise, a massive explosion could have endangered many lives.

According Public Health Department officials, the department gives permissions for laying water or sewerage lines. An application, along with fees, must be submitted to obtain a receipt and details of experienced plumbers. Additionally, the Municipal Council requires prior approval for digging or breaking roads, including fee submission based on the size of the work.

Praveen Sharma, JE of the Municipal Council, said, “Most residents bypass the process of seeking permissions for water and sewer connections, leading to premature damage to roads.”

Notably, CNG is a light gas that disperses quickly into the air. It only ignites when exposed to a spark. The pipelines are protected with a four-layer, 500 mm iron casing to prevent accidents. Warning signs are also displayed on the pipelines for added safety.