New Delhi: Looking to protect the water body from the possibility of contamination, the Central Polution Board (CPCB) has published a new guideline that prohibits preparing a new gas station (retail outlet) within 50 meters from the closest point, pond, streaming, river, wetlands, Canal, and river.
Guidelines, which are sent to all public and private sector oil marketing companies, and state pollution controllers, also determine the soil sampling protocol to monitor the level of contamination regularly, and suggest protection that must be followed by gas stations even outside 50 meters from water body.
“Retail outlets come within 50 meters to 100 meters from the nearest surface water point must have secondary detention with a double-walled tank or concrete protection wall around the underground storage tank (UST),” the CPCB guidelines, which were released on Monday.
Adendum to the previous guide to prepare a new gas station in this country, was released last year.
Acting in the direction of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Central Pollution Supervisor has issued a guideline for this issue and places it in the public domain to seek suggestions for general public and concerned stakeholders.
The last guideline has now been issued after reviewing all suggestions by the Expert Committee.
New criteria must be implemented for “all new gas stations” where construction by Oil Marketing Company (OMCS) began after issuing this guideline.
“Monitoring the quality of ground water and land near the location of fuel retail outlets must be carried out by OMC once a year through environmental laws (protection), 1986 approved laboratories or laboratories with national / international accreditation,” CPCB guidelines said.
Monitoring will be made for all fuel retail outlets located within 100 meters of the nearest surface water point, regardless of the date of establishment.
The guidelines released last year have banned the opening of a new fuel station (retail outlet) within 50 meters from schools, hospitals and residential areas.