SHILLONG: A PIL has been filed in the Meghalaya High court seeking necessary orders to stay the process of setting up of 233 petrol pumps in the state as recently advertised by oil marketing company IOCL, HPCL, BPCL .
Advocate K. Paul, appearing on behalf of the petitioner argued that Meghalaya with 206 existing retail outlets is already over flooded compared to other neighbouring NE States and as such installing another 233 new outlets will results in deforestation, pollution, destruction of environment, felling of trees, etc. which would not only disturb the topography of the area but would also affect human habitation besides causing other negative effects.
The PIL said that the actions of the oil marketing companies without assessing the environmental impact and obtaining environment clearance showing justifiable need and requirement of the same is not in line with provisions of Environment and Protection Act 1986, Indian Forest Act 1927, Forest conservation act 1980, water and air (Prevention and control of pollution) act 1974 and other allied acts, notifications, rules made there under.
Petitioner also stated that State of Meghalaya is mountainous with stretches of valley and hills and is rich both geologically as well as flora and fauna, besides seasonal rain-fed rivers which will get polluted due to unregulated and rampant construction of petrol pumps all across the highways, state roads as well as small hamlets of the State.
Petitioner also stated that Government of India is actively promoting use of electric vehicles and claimed that every vehicle sold in the country should be powered by electricity by 2030 besides Govt is promoting manufacture and use of biogas as an alternative fuel to control damage to environment as such could not have arbitrarily taken decision to set up 233 new pumps especially in absence of their being a justifiable requirement for the same.
According to the PIL, a large number of these petrol pumps were also advertised in the areas which are protected forests , national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserve.
It was also said that Meghalaya having approx 6 per cent share in population and 6 per cent share in the number of registered vehicles among NE States have almost 15 per cent share in the number of petrol pumps and as such setting up of another 233 new outlets will have a very huge negative impact on densely forested state which is gradually decreasing every passing day.
The High Court has issued notices to all the respondents to be returnable within four weeks time for further listing of the case.