(a): the reasons behind the major fire that broke out in Jaipur at IOC Oil depot in 2009;
(b): whether some Senior officers of the Jaipur based IOC Unit have been found guilty for
this fire;
(c) the action taken by the Government against these guilty officials; and
(d) the steps taken by Government to avoid such accidents in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a): An Independent seven member Inquiry Committee constituted by the Ministry under the
chairmanship of Shri M.B. Lal, Technical Member (P&NG), Appellate Tribunal for Electricity
and Ex-Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, in its
report submitted to the Ministry has identified the immediate cause, root cause and critical
factors resulting into the accident, which includes
i) Non observance of normal safe procedure involving sequence of valve operating in line up
activity.
ii) Absence of site specific written operating procedures.
iii) Loss of primary containment of Motor Spirit (Petrol).
The complete report of the Independent Inquiry Committee is available on the website of
Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) at http://www.oisd.nic.in.
(b) & (c): In connection with the incident of fire at Jaipur Terminal during Oct, 2009,
IOC has initiated disciplinary action against Shri K.N. Agrawal, Foreman (F) and Shri Ashok
Gupta who was Shift In-charge on that day. Rajasthan State Police is also investigating the
incident. Eight officers and one workman including the then General Manager, Rajasthan State
Office of IOC were arrested on 2.07.2010.
(d): The Committee has recommended numerous short term as well as long term measures for
preventing such incidents in future. This Ministry has accepted the recommendations made
by the Committee for improvement and ensuring safety and emergency preparedness at POL
terminals and advised OMCs to implement the recommendations within a time frame.This
Ministry had also convened a meeting on 3.11.2009, to review the safety and security at
all oil & gas installations in the country, belonging to both public and private oil companies,
in which the oil companies were directed to carry out self safety audit conforming to statutory
norms and risk assessment, including OISD standards by 31.12.2009. Such audits have been
carried out and report compiled by OISD.