Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 26: High Court today sought response from the Central and State Governments on setting up of 632 petrol outlets in the State.
The Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Sanjeev Kumar in this connection issued notice to Ministry of Petroleum, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, Divisional Manager IOC Jammu, Territorial Manager BPCL Jammu, Commissioner Secretary Revenue Department, Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Doda, Ganderbal, Jammu, Kargil, Kuthua, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Kupwara, Leh, Poonch, Pulwama, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Srinagar, Shopian and Udhampur for filing of response to the PIL raised objections with regard to setting up of 632 outlets in the state.
Senior advocate Z A Shah submitted before the court that the authorities have not made any survey before taking the said decision nor have followed the norms and procedure and guidelines as framed from time to time for setting up of new outlets.
Court admitted the matter for hearing and issued notice to the officials of petroleum ministry as also the State Government functionaries for filing of response to the contentions raised in the PIL by or before March 26.
The Central Government has decided to set up new 65000 petrol outlets across the country out of which 632 are being set up in the State for that advertisement notices have been issued and published in the month of November last year.
Court has been apprised that the decision of the authorities is against the interests of the State, People at large and the environment, land use, fruit industry, horticulture and agriculture industry of the state and grown more food policy, air pollution, water pollution.
A direction has been sought in the PIL for quashing the decision of the authorities in so far in relates to setting up of 632 outlets in the state so that the authorities are restrained from proceeding ahead to the advertisement notice as all the deputy commissioners be restrained to grant any kind of permission or ‘NOC’ for establishment of new retail petrol outlets.
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