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Srinagar, Dec 17 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has taken a serious note of non-compliance of its orders by an oil company which had been directed to shift oil storage depots from residential areas of the city.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Bashir Ahmed Khan and Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani, had given the directions on a public interest litigation (PIL).

The PIL stated that many petrol pumps had come up in residential areas of the city in contravention of laws, thus endangering the lives of the inhabitants.

The court had then directed the Union Petroleum Ministry to shift two oil storage depots of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the Hindustan Petroleum (HP) from residential areas to alternate sites in the larger public interest.

The oil companies were also directed to pursue the process of shifting of the depots within three months. While HP shifted its oil depot from Peer Bagh area, IOC filed a status report about its pump station at Sanat Nagar.

The court observed that the report did not indicate any timeframe within which IOC would complete its shifting plan to Pampore on the city outskirts where it had acquired the land for the purpose.

It also noted that the status report conveyed an impression that IOC had taken the matter casually as the company stated that it would take three seasons to shift the depot.

''It (IOC) also seems to be oblivious to dangers posed to life and property of the inhabitants as experts had opined that any untoward incident at the dumping site would devastate and destroy all surroundings areas and affect the population,'' the Bench added.

''We are taking a serious note of this lack of concern and the casual approach adopted by the company and also non-application of mind while dealing with the implementation of court directions.'' The Bench sought affidavits from the IOC Managing Director indicating time-frame for shifting of the oil depot by mobilising company's resources and cutting short procedural wrangles.

The IOC MD or any competent authority should file an undertaking that the company, through its directors, would stand guarantee for any loss of life and property in surrounding areas in case of any untoward incident during shifting, the court ordered.

The Bench directed the IOC authorities to deposit Rs 15,000 in the Dal Conservation Fund and asked them to personally appear before it for any clarification.

The bench said the Union counsel and those representing oil companies have failed to assist the court in showing norms provided by rules and regulations of the Petroleum Ministry or for that matter from oil companies for granting dealership.

The court had asked the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar besides heads of the Srinagar Development Authority and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to explain how permission was granted to oil companies to open petrol pumps in residential areas of the city.

UNI AG RR VV1356