Gas leaks must not be taken lightly

Credit goes to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company for mixing odorant with the natural gas it supplies through its largest network of pipes to households and other establishments. Inhabitants of many areas in the capital city could detect gas leaks courtesy of the odorant and informed different government agencies before coming out of their residences fearing there could be explosions like the ones at Siddique Bazar and a residential-cum-commercial building near the Science Laboratory. But its lackadaisical response and subsequent attempt to downplay the matter hardly go well with Dhaka residents because they do not feel convinced of the argument that it happened due to high pressure of gas and there was nothing to be worried about. Can't excessively high pressure be dangerous? Gas pipelines are mostly 40 years old and experts disagree with Titas officials who claim minor leaks in pipes are irreparable and will not cause explosions.

Both arguments are faulty because in the first place Titas must not act after the gas consumers have informed of leaks; rather there has to be a failsafe automated system to detect and control high and low pressure much like that of temperature and pressure in a nuclear reactor. It seems the distribution company has no such automated device in place. Then minor leaks no longer remain minor when gas flow gathers more pressure than usual. Even under normal pressure, slow release of gas through small leaks over a long period can get accumulated underneath sealed basements or ground floors until the pressure causes disastrous blasts. An expert has cited the example of such blasts at a mosque in Narayanganj and a residential building in Moghbazar. In 2021-22, Titas itself detected as many as 985 leaks at 449 points of 1,682-kilometre long pipeline of its total 7,000 km network it brought under its scrutiny. This means more than 5,000 km pipeline remains undetected. Even if the 985 leaks have been, as Titas claims, repaired, who knows how many leaks have developed on the pipelines yet to be surveyed?

It is a serious matter and must not be downplayed. Replacement of the old and damaged pipelines, as suggested by experts, should be given the highest priority. Different areas of the city smelt gas on Monday but unconfirmed reports of gas smell on Wednesday were there as well. Clearly, the gas leaks have set the alarm bells ringing and there is no way of taking the threat of danger lightly.

It is always prudent to act before disasters strike. So long gas-related blasts have occurred in isolated cases. Now the smell of gas, which cannot happen without its escape from pipelines, detected in several areas of the city presents an ominous prospect for mass destruction and death. Although Titas claims that the situation is under control and the ministry concerned depends on its assurance to reassure people of no danger and therefore not to get panicky, it will be wise to set up a high-level committee comprising energy experts in order to get to the bottom of the problem. Once the cause is known, its solution will not be hard to come by. But there is no time to lose.