Petrol pump fire raises security concerns
Nagpur   15-Nov-2010

The fire that broke out at a petrol pump near the ST bus stand here on Saturday afternoon has once again raised a question mark over the clear lack of compliance to safety norms at the fuel stations.

Although the blaze at Central Petrol Pump of the IndianOil was brought under control within half an hour, it triggered large-scale panic in the area. Had it not been for some prompt action, it could have turned into a major disaster.

There were three petrol pumps in front of the ST bus stand and all of them are in close proximity with the square on the national highways passing through the city. Besides, a high tension wire of electricity passes over them.

The department of explosives had raised objections over the pumps for flouting the norms of distance from the national highway. On May 18, 1991, the then SDO of Yavatmal, Dr. T Chandrashekhar, re-assessed the lease amount of the land where the pumps are located and directed the proprietors to find alternate places. The proprietors appealed against the order but the then district collector H R Kulkarni turned down their appeal on March 22, 1993. Kulkarni's successor Rajiv Jalota also served notices to the proprietors to vacate the land.

One of the petrol pumps, M/s. Bajoria and Nimodia, had shifted while the other two went on further appeals, after which the matter has been lying in cold storage. One of the petrol pumps has been regularised.