Filling station flouts rule near PAP intersection

Rachna Khaira

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 11

In gross violation of the Explosives Act and Indian Electricity Rules, a filling station has been running under a 132-KV high-power transmission tower near the PAP intersection for the past many years.

The transmission lines from the tower are going from Bhakra Dam to Pushpa Gujral Science city in Kapurthala.

As the oil company concerned feeds fuel to the filling station twice a day, any kind of short-circuit or sparking in the tower can have a devastating effect all across the city as another filling station is also located just next to the same tower.

According to Rakesh Sharma, Chief Engineer, Punjab State Power Transmission, the transmission line was laid around 40 years ago. “It is practically not possible to have the lines installed over a filling station as we conduct a detailed survey before laying of a high-power transmission line. Also, Indian Electricity Rules do not allow us to install lines over a constructed structure of any sort,” said Sharma. He also said that he would investigate as to whether the oil company had got an NOC issued from the Powercom before the opening of the pump here under the transmission tower.

The line has been commissioned under Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and runs through the 220 KV power substations at Chuggitti. Also, after entering the city, it while moving through Children’s park and Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), culminates at Pushpa Gujral Science city.

Kamal Kunj, senior manager, (senior retail division), Indian Oil, said the pump had been commissioned only after attaining the NOC from 17 departments. “We have been issued all NOCs from the departments concerned required under the Explosives Act,” claimed Kunj.

Hinting at a major scam into the issuing of NOCs to filling stations with connivance with officials of various departments, sources from the oil industry have even alleged that around 60 per cent of the filling stations in the district had submitted different building plans in all 17 departments. “They have made necessary changes in the building plans according to the needs of the department concerned. No one has ever bothered to launch an investigation into the case,” said a source.

While the Indian Electricity Rules permit no concrete structure to be built under the high-power transmission lines, the Explosives Act also directs not to have any electric wiring crossing over the filling station. Defying both, a filling station is running openly under it, raising serious doubts over the authenticity of the NOCs issued by various departments of the district administration.