Several years have passed since the authorities decided to shift the oil depots from sensitive Jammu city areas to peripherals, no progress has been made on the project as on date, sources said.
They said that even the chunk of land which was identified near Bajalta area in the city outskirts to relocate the oil depots from areas adjacent to Jammu railway station has not been transferred to the oil companies as on date.
According to them, some political leaders of the area are not allowing the revenue department expedite the process of acquisition of around 1000 kanals of private and state land in the area.
“And there are limited hopes that the land acquisition and transfer process will be completed in the coming year or two,” sources said further.
“There are some issues pending with revenue department regarding transfer of private land to the oil companies. From our side, all formalities have been completed. We’re trying to ensure that the transfer process completes at an earliest,” director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department, Amit Sharma told Greater Kashmir.
He further said, “Even I want the land be transferred as soon as possible as Jammu is sitting on fire wall. Any untoward incident will lead to huge damages.”
Earlier in the month of July, the commissioner secretary FCS&CA department, Dr Abdul Rashid also held a meeting with state level coordinator of oil marketing companies, Rajiv Yadav and directed the later to expedite the process of shifting of oil depots from municipal limits.
It is important to mention here that safety experts have time and again pointed out that an oil depot in close proximity of a sensitive place like railway station is an open invitation for the occurrence of a mishap.