BPCL denies liability for Loutolim tanker mishap

MARGAO, FEB 17
Rejecting the deputy collector’s report that the Aviation Turbine Fuel tanker incident at Ambora-Loutolim caused a loss of Rs 29 lakh, including damage to the Khazan fields, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd officials asserted that it is the liability of the transporters for safe carriage of petroleum products and that any loss or damage or accident if any is attributable to the tanker crew or the transporter.
Filing a reply to the show cause notice issued by the Chief Executive Officer, South Goa District Disaster Management Authority, Y B Tawde, BPCL officials further went on to say that the show cause notice has been issued under political pressure and for extraneous reasons.
Virtually abdicating its responsibility on the transportation of the Aviation Turbine Fuel from Mumbai to Goa, the company said that the tanker is managed and run by a transport contractor and that it neither has any control over the staff of the transporter nor is liable for the act of the transporter and his crew. “Loss, if any, has taken place cannot be attributed to us. Hence, we are not liable for any damages whatsoever,” the reply stated.
The incident has occurred beyond the control of the company as such no negligence of any sort can be attributed to it, the officials said. Under the light of these facts attributing culpability to the company is false, he added.
The BPCL officials firmly denied the question of alleged spillage in the khazan land as well as into the field, adding the company has not committed any offence under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and further denied commission of any offence under the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1986.
“We are neither party to the spillage nor are liable for any spillage as alleged. We have taken all due precaution at our filling point at Mumbai while filling the product in the tanker. It is then the responsibility of the tanker crew or the transporter for safe carriage of the product to the destination as occurance of the incident was beyond our control,” the reply asserted.
The company has called for withdrawal of the show cause notice and not to initiate any punitive action against the officials.
Tawde told Herald that he has asked BPCL official to furnish additional details on the tanker incident, while adjourning hearing of the case.