(a) whether a large number petroleum depots has been located in the thickly populated areas in various parts of the country;
(b) if so, whether adequate steps have been taken as a highly explosive projects is stored in the vicinity of densely populated urban areas;
(c) if so, whether such depots would be removed to safer places; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS ( SHRIMATI SUMITRA MAHAJAN )
(a) : Initially, sites for petroleum Depots are generally selected away from populated areas. However, over a period of time, residential and commercial structures come up in the vicinity, making the area congested.
(b) : Adequate built-in-measure are taken while designing the facilities of Depots by adhering to the laid down guidelines, Petroleum Act & Rules (enforced by Chief Controller of Explosives, Nagpur) OISD Standards, Factory Act, etc., as applicable.
(c) & (d) : Oil Companies review shifting of depots on various grounds like safety considerations, resitement to other location and strategic storage etc. Several depots in the past have been closed down/resited due to various reasons including safety considerations.