Govt decides to shift oil depots beyond city limits

In the wake of the devastating IOC depot fire, the Government of Rajasthan on Friday decided to shift oil depots situated in densely populated localities beyond the city’s limits and buy spiral ladder fire-fighter vans to deal with such situations in future.

“There should be separate city and village master plan with specific location of vulnerable industries and oil depots, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told reporters outside the Pradesh Congress office here.

Quoting the Supreme Court orders by which the Delhi government sealed such shops and industries in the city area, Mr. Gehlot said similar conditions would now prevail in Rajasthan.

“The government is busy working on master plans of urban and rural towns and this condition would find priority to avert such fire tragedies”, Mr. Gehlot said.

State Home and Urban Development Minister Shanti Dhariwal told reporters that all vulnerable oil and gas depots located in the densely populated area in the city would have to be shifted beyond 35 kms.

It was unfortunate that the municipal bodies did not have spiral ladder to douse flames reaching above 50-100 metres, he said, adding this kind of vans would be bought at the earliest.