(a) whether the Government has taken the decision to shift the oil depot from Forbesganj to another place;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has received representations/requests against the shifting of the said depot; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS & PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) & (b): The petroleum storage depot of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Forbesganj was commissioned in the year 1972. The Forbesganj depot was receiving products by rail from Siliguri Terminal through meter gauge. Owing to conversion of the gauge by the Railways, supplies to Forbesganj were getting affected. Considering this, as well as the unsafe condition of the depot which was situated in the middle of a residential locality and did not conform to Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) norms, the depot was closed for operation in January 2003. Thereafter, supplies to the Forbesganj fed market are being made from Barauni. Even after the closure of this depot and direct supplies from Barauni, there have been no dryouts reported at any of the markets which were earlier being fed from the Forbesganj depot.
(c) : No such representation/request has been received in the recent past by this Ministry.
(d): Does not arise, in view of reply to part (c).