Tamil Nadu News: The Madras High Court ordered the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) to carry out due inquiry while granting prior site approval and satisfy themselves that the site, where fuel outlets are to be located, meets all the criteria mentioned under relevant rules, as reported by news agency PTI.
PESO is the nodal agency for regulating the safety of hazardous substances such as explosives, compressed gas, and petroleum. It was earlier known as the Department of Explosives.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice S. V. Gangapurwala and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, gave the directive in a recent order while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate VBR Menon.
Among other things, PIL sought direction to the authorities to formulate and notify, within a prescribed time limit, appropriate site inspection and verification procedures for adherence while issuing prior site approvals and final explosive licences in Form No.XIV to the Petroleum Retail Outlets, as reported by PTI. The bench also stated that, for the aforesaid purpose, it was not necessary to carry out a physical inspection in every case.
The bench underscored that a physical inspection shall also be made by PESO whenever any doubt arises or in any situation that they deem fit and proper.
According to PTI, the bench stated that 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, and also assist in the measurements between the site and the location of other buildings and water bodies, among others.