DOHA: Public representative body, the Central Municipal Council (CMC), yesterday discussed the dangers involved in door-to-door sales of cooking gas cylinders, with a member stressing the need to have piped gas channelled to homes and commercial users.
As for the supply of petroleum products to filling stations, some CMC members called for a ban the movement of oil tankers on the roads during day time.
The CMC took up the issue for threadbare debate after an oil tanker recently exploded on a busy road in Riyadh claiming several lives and leaving many injured.
“We are witnessing so much development so why we can’t have pipeline networks to supply cooking gas to users? Why we are still relying on door-to-door supply of gas cylinders?,” asked Mohamed Al Muslemani.
The lone woman member of the CMC, Sheikha Al Jefairi, said she had been consistently raising the issue of gas cylinder trucks being parked near the primary health centre and schools in her constituency (Old Airport Area).
Taking part in the debate in the House, she said she had submitted a note to CMC’s general-secretariat drawing the attention of Doha Municipality and the Traffic Department to the dangerous practice. Not one but several trucks filled with gas cylinders can be seen parked near schools and the health centre in her constituency, Al Jefairi said.
Mohamed bin Hamoud Al Shafi said oil tankers, especially, shouldn’t be allowed to pass through busy streets. They should instead use auxiliary routes.
He said only fellow Qatari nationals should be allowed to drive oil tankers as they would feel more responsible while handling such hazardous materials.
“But the tragedy is whenever a fellow Qatari goes enquiring about job prospects as a driver he is told that there is no vacancy,” said Al Shafi without naming Qatar Fuel Company (Woqod), local distributors of petroleum products.
Another CMC member, Mohamed Al Hajri emphasised the need to shift Woqod’s depot from Abu Hamour saying it was right in the middle of residential localities.
The Peninsula
