Petrol stations flouting safety norms in Jammu

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 13

A majority of the petrol pumps in the city is seen violating the safety guidelines and rules, putting lives of residents at risk.

Some petrol pumps, having large tanks of inflammable diesel and petrol, are close to residential colonies, hospitals and schools, which is becoming a major threat to public order in the city.

There are safety guidelines to set up a petrol pump in a city and the applicant has to get a clearance from 26 departments of the state. However, unfortunately many of the petrol pumps in the city are posing a danger to the locality and no step is being taken to shift these.

As per the government guidelines, two petrol pumps should have a distance of at least 1-km, it should not be located on the crossing of a T-point, it should not be in a residential area or near a crowded market etc. However, most the pumps have failed to fulfill the basic requirements of setting up a petrol pump in the city.

Some of these include, an old petrol pump located at Gumat Bazar, one near the Jammu airport, two pumps near Jammu bus stand, one near cremation ground in Trikuta Nagar, four back-to-back petrol pumps in Narwal area, a new Bharat Petroleum pump at a T-point on Jammu High Court road and many others which are not only violating the norms, but also posing a serious life threat to the locality.

“It is a threat to the society, as many of the pumps are located in the most crowded areas of the city. They were established decades ago when there were no buildings in the areas. It is a matter of serious concern and the administration should take immediate steps for the safety of the people,” said RT Dubey, Joint Director, Fire and Emergency Services.

However, Jammu and Kashmir Petroleum Dealers’ Association feels that haphazard construction in the city had made the petrol pumps more dangerous. “The companies are floating advertisements without mentioning the requirements. Moreover, applicants anyhow manage to get clearances from all departments for setting up the petrol pumps,” said Anan Sharma, president of the association.

Threat to residents’ lives

Many petrol pumps are located in the most crowded areas of the city. These pumps were established decades ago when there were no buildings in the areas. It is a matter of serious concern and the administration should take immediate steps for the safety of the people. — RT Dubey, joint director, fire and emergency services

Haphazard construction in the city has made the petrol pumps more dangerous. The companies are floating advertisements without mentioning the requirements. Moreover, applicants anyhow manage to get clearances from all departments for setting up petrol pumps. — Anan Sharma, president, J&K petroleum dealers’ association