Urgent: NGT Mandates Vigorous Enforcement of New SOP for Fuel Depots—Safeguard Our Environment Now!
On February 18, 2025, the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) eastern zone bench in Kolkata mandated strict enforcement of the Sikkim government’s revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for setting up fuel depots in Sikkim. This directive addresses environmental and safety concerns associated with establishing petrol, diesel, and kerosene depots in the state.
The SOP, issued on January 9, 2025, by the Sikkim State Pollution Control Board, aligns with the Central Pollution Control Board’s guidelines and the MB Lal Committee recommendations. It specifies that fuel depots must maintain a buffer zone of 250 to 300 meters from residential areas, schools, healthcare facilities, historical sites, and places of worship to prevent potential environmental and safety hazards. No construction is permitted within this designated buffer zone.
This action by the NGT came in response to a petition filed by Majhitar resident YB Thapa, challenging a Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) depot project. The project, with a capacity of 1,065,000 liters, was found to violate existing environmental norms and procedures by being sited too close to neighboring properties.
Additionally, the Central Pollution Control Board’s notification from January 7, 2020, already requires petrol pumps and retail outlets to maintain a minimum distance of 50 meters from human habitation. However, until the recent Sikkim SOP, no formal criteria existed explicitly for fuel depots despite their significant environmental impact.
The NGT concluded the application with a directive to Sikkim authorities to rigorously apply the SOP. The petitioner’s advocates, Akshar Bhatt and Sajal Sharma, represented his case. The Tribunal’s decision underscores the necessity for regulatory compliance to mitigate environmental risks related to fuel depot constructions in Sikkim and sets a precedent for upholding ecological standards.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/ngt-directs-strict-enforcement-of-revised-sop-for-setting-up-fuel-depots-in-sikkim
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