Roadside Parking Near HP Gas Plant in Pampore Poses Threat to Public

Bilal Habib

Pampore, Jan 20: Dozens of oil tankers and trucks carrying HP gas cylinders are parked along the roadside near the HP Gas Plant in Letterbal, Pampore, creating a significant safety hazard for commuters. The illegal parking has severely reduced the width of the road, causing traffic congestion and increasing the risk of accidents.

Commuters have raised concerns about the growing number of fatalities near the plant, which they attribute to the frequent illegal parking by truckers and tankers. The plant does have its own parking area, but the vehicles continue to block the road, creating an unsafe environment for both pedestrians and drivers.

Mohammad Asif Ganie, Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for Pulwama, visited the site and interacted with commuters and truckers. He called for immediate intervention from the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama, and the Tehsildar of Pampore to resolve the issue and save lives.

“I visited the area near the gas plant to address the growing issue of the footpaths on the old national highway near Galander Pampore being blocked by gas tankers, oil tankers, and trucks. This has made it extremely difficult for pedestrians to walk on the road,” said Ganie, speaking to Kashmir Convener.

He added, “Accidents occur frequently in this area, and some have even resulted in fatalities. The primary cause of these accidents is the illegal parking on both sides of the road, which narrows the path to less than 12 feet, creating significant problems for pedestrians and vehicles alike.”

The BJP leader emphasized that despite repeated requests to stop the illegal parking, the situation remains unresolved. “If an accident involving a gas tanker occurs here, it could lead to a major disaster,” he warned. He revealed that around 200 gas and petrol tankers are parked on the road daily, exacerbating the risk.

Ganie also raised the issue of the lack of benefits promised to the residents of Pampore, who had given land for the gas plant, oil depot, and grid station. “We were promised discounts on electricity and gas, but we have not received any of those benefits to date,” he said.

He concluded by urging the authorities to visit the area and address the issue promptly. “The tankers should be parked in the designated parking area at the back of the plant, not on the roadside,” he stressed, reiterating that immediate action is crucial to prevent further loss of life.