Question : Accident in Petrol Pumps due to Retail Shops

(a) whether the Government has noticed that some commercial outlets such as eating joints and liquor shops are being allocated by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) at various petrol pumps in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with number of accidents happened at various petrol pumps due to commercial operation and follow-up action taken to check incidents of fire at petrol pump by preventing of throwing of burning cigarette etc. into the premises of petrol pump, OMC-wise;
(c whether the operations of such retail general shops/liquor shop at various petrol pumps are being carried out illegally and involvement of relatives of OMCs officials/CMD has been found and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has issued guidelines and framed statutory rules to control/stop such illegal operation and monitor these outlets accordingly and action taken against the officials involved therein, OMC-wise; and
(e) if so, the details and the compliance status thereof; and along with the other corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
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MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) : Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) namely; Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) have informed that they do not allocate commercial outlets at their Retail Outlets on a routine basis. However, depending on availability of space, the dealer or a third party/operators are allowed to operate a food joint or convenience store etc. within the ambit of the prevalent policy guidelines/procedures, for the benefit and convenience of customers. Further, OMCs do not permit operation of any liquor shops at their petrol pumps.
(b) : OMCs have informed that no accident has been reported due to the operation of such convenience stores, shopping or food stores.
(c) to (e) : OMCs have informed that customer convenience facilities are operated by alliance partners/dealers /operators as per their prevalent policy guidelines/procedures, and there are no established cases of involvement of relatives of their officials in the operation of such facilities.
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