The Madras High Court has directed the Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) to conduct due enquiry while granting prior site approval & satisfy themselves that the site, where fuel outlets are to be located, satisfy all the criteria mentioned under relevant rules.According to PESO, formerly known as Department of Explosives, it is the nodal agency for regulating safety of hazardous substances such as explosives, compressed gas & petroleum.The first bench comprising Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala & Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy gave the directive in a recent order while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate VBR Menon, which among other things sought a direction to the authorities to formulate & notify, within a prescribed time limit, appropriate site inspection & verification procedures for adherence while issuing prior site approvals & final explosive licences in Form No.XIV to the Petroleum Retail Outlets.The bench said for aforesaid purpose, it was not necessary to carry out physical inspection in each & every case, but whenever any doubt arises or in any situation which they deem fit & proper, a physical inspection shall also be made by PESO.The bench said upon request of PESO, the concerned Revenue Tahsildar shall depute the jurisdictional Surveyor, who will demarcate the boundaries & assist in the location of the premises of the retail outlets & also assist in the measurements between the site & location of other buildings, water bodies among others.
TAGS: Madras High Court Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) Site Approval Fuel Outlets
