Jalandhar, Punjab – The Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association expresses grave concern over the continued and will ful non-compliance by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Guidelines dated 07.01.2020, specifically Point 4, Section B, Page 4, which mandates stringent environmental safeguards at retail petroleum outlets to prevent soil and groundwater contamination.
Despite clear directives from CPCB requiring regular monitoring and preventive measures to detect and mitigate underground fuel leakages, HPCL has failed to implement these critical safeguards at several locations. A glaring example is the case of Satguru Filling Station HP, where the dealer has been persistently raising concerns since 2009 regarding probable underground leakage. Investigations eventually confirmed the leakage, yet HPCL not only failed to take timely remedial action but also allegedly published falsified reports to suppress the findings.
Shockingly, HPCL is now proceeding to replace underground tanks and pipelines without issuing any formal documentation or disclosing the actual assessment reports. This clandestine approach not only violates transparency norms but also raises serious questions about the integrity of HPCL’s environmental compliance practices.
The clustering of petrol pumps in densely populated areas further exacerbates the risk. The seepage of petroleum products into the soil poses a severe hazard to groundwater reserves, which are a primary source of drinking water in many regions. The CPCB guidelines were instituted precisely to prevent such ecological disasters, yet HPCL’s disregard for these norms reflects a systemic failure to uphold environmental responsibility. As per Guidelines issued in 2020,all the tanks installed prior to 2013 falls due for Testing for leakage, but seriousness of the HPCL towards environmental concerns is evident from the case of Saguru Filling Station HP.
A formal complaint regarding this issue has been submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Punjab State Pollution Control Board, urging urgent intervention and accountability proceedings against the Oil Marketing Company’s (OMC’s).
We call upon the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, CPCB, and other relevant authorities to take immediate cognizance and initiate an independent inquiry into this grave environmental lapse. Negligence in such matters endangers not only the environment but also the health and wellbeing of the communities residing in these vulnerable zones.
Issued by: Rajesh Kumar, Secretary General, Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association, 9915032531
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