Central Pollution Control Board Sends Show Cause Notice To Oil Firm

The Central Pollution Control Board has asked oil firm Nayara Energy why a fine of Rs one crore should not be slapped on it and prosecution not initiated over non-compliance of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order on installation of anti-pollution vapour recovery systems at fuel stations.

The CPCB had earlier slapped a fine of Rs 1 crore each on three public sector oil companies for their failure to install vapour recovery system (VRS) systems at fuel stations.

Last week, the CPCB also sent a show cause notice to Reliance industries, asking why a fine of Rs one crore should not be slapped on it.

The pollution control board, in the notice dated January 22, said the NGT on September 28 directed oil companies to ensure installation of VRS in petrol pumps selling more than 300 kilolitres per month.

"The Nayara Energy Limited on January 14 informed again that the company has taken initiatives for procurement of VRS in retail outlets of Delhi NCT," the show cause notice said.

"The above status indicates non-compliance of the NGT order and therefore, in view of above, a notice is hereby served to show cause as to why environment compensation of Rs one crore shall not be levied and prosecution not initiated against Nayara Energy for non-compliance of NGT order," CPCB chairperson SPS Parihar said in the notice.

Vapour recovery device is an instrument to capture displaced vapours that emerge from inside a vehicle''s fuel tank while filling petrol or diesel in it.

In December, the CPCB had imposed a fine on public sector oil firms Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.