Haryana tells oil firms to shift depots from residential areas

Urvashi Gulati Chandigarh, Nov 17 : Concerned over the devastation caused by the recent oil depot fire near Jaipur, the Haryana government has asked leading public sector oil companies to review and shift their depots located near residential areas in the state.

A state government spokesman Tuesday said Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati has met officials of various oil companies to review security and other issues related to oil terminals in Haryana.

Gulati asked the oil marketing firms to take a fresh look into the safety aspects at the depots in the wake of the fire that broke out at an Indian Oil Corp (IOC) depot in Jaipur Oct 29, killing 11 people, injuring more than 150 and causing loss to property.

The chief secretary also sought information on depots located in densely populated areas.

IOC and other oil marketing companies have depots in the districts of Ambala, Panipat, Jhajjar, Hisar and Rewari.

The Ambala depot, some 45 km from here, is located in a densely populated residential and commercial area.

In September, the district administration had to summon oil company officials after seepage from tankers at the depot started affecting the playgrounds of two nearby government schools.

Students had to be shifted from the premises after oil started oozing out of the playgrounds.(IANS)