Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has formed a monitoring committee at the central level to ensure that gasoline stations maintain safety norms as it has been revealed that there is widespread violation of safety regulations. The committee was formed on Wednesday under the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology Director General Bishwo Babu Pudasaini. The committee will inspect gasoline stations in metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities throughout the country.

The committee has been given a deadline of a month to submit its report, according to NOC Spokesperson Birendra Kumar Goit.

NOC has been receiving heavy criticism for its lax enforcement following a fire at Super Gas Udhyog in Sukhachaina, Birgunj last Wednesday in which three firefighters lost their lives.

The corporation held talks with representatives of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association (NPDA) and Bagmati Petroleum Dealers’ Association on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, Goit said.

“Both associations have agreed to implement safety measures at petrol pumps,” Goit said.

As per the NPDA, there are 1,200 refilling stations across the country. Among them, 117 petrol pumps are operating in the Kathmandu Valley. A report issued by the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology shows that about half of the gasoline pumps do not meet safety standards.

As per NOC, the committee will carry out a study of all the petrol pumps in the country and prepare a report. “In the second stage, committees will be formed at the local level to monitor the safety measures in place at the petrol pumps,” Goit said.

In January 2016, the government had instructed all petrol pumps in the country to upgrade their standards by amending the Distribution Bylaw of Petroleum Products.

As per the amendments to the bylaw, refilling stations will have to make available women-, men- and disabled-friendly toilets, drinking water, open space and adequate parking. Fuel pumps situated on national highways should have an area of at least 3 ropanis. Similarly, the minimum area for pumps located in metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities has been fixed at 1.5 ropanis. Gasoline stations should also possess at least four fire extinguishers, four buckets filled with sand and a 1,000-litre water tank. The pump should be surrounded by a  5-foot high compound wall.

Fuel pumps were also instructed to maintain a proper distribution and sales office and fulfil safety standards within four months of the new bylaw coming into effect. The bylaw has mandated NOC to take action against pumps violating regulations.

Goit said gasoline stations were ready to fulfill all the requirements except the minimum area. “As a number of petrol pumps have been licensed to operate in a small area, we cannot compel them in this matter,” he added.

NPDA President Lilendra Prasad Pradhan said fuel station operators were ready to respect all safety measures except the land area. “The association will monitor the petrol pumps itself to ensure that they are following the rules,” Pradhan said.

Locals want gas plants relocated

NOC said on Wednesday that it was also planning to inspect all gas bottling plants operating in the country to make sure that safety measures were being followed. Spokesperson Goit said the company would hold discussions after receiving the report of the probe committee investigating the fire at Super Gas Udhyog in Sukhachaina, Parsa.

Locals have asked authorities to relocate gas bottling plants far from residential areas as the inferno at Super Gas looked like spreading and causing further damage. Residents have been demanding the relocation of Super Gas in Parsa, Manoj Gas in Lipanibirta, Amber Gas in Jitpur, Nepal Gas in Simara, Jagadamba Gas in Parasauni and NL Gas in Piluwa. (PR)