Disaster Management Authority issues show cause notice to BP

Disaster Management Authority issues show cause notice to BP
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 8  
It’s official. The South Goa Disaster Management Authority on Tuesday issued a notice on Bharat Petroleum officials to show cause why the vehicles belonging to the company should not be stopped from plying on the roads of South Goa district in view in the Ambora Aviation Tanker fuel accident.
Disaster Management Authority Chief Executive Officer, Y B Tawde issued the notice on Tuesday a day after Deputy Collector, Margao Johnson Fernandes submitted a report stating that the company officials had failed to appearance on the scene on the day of the incident to take stock of the situation and to adopt remedial measures on a war footing.
“It has been reported by the deputy collector that on account the tanker that skidded at Ambora, considerable amount of damage has occurred to the Khazan lands as well as the paddy fields admeasuring 1.72 lakh square meters. The preliminary estimate of the losses is pegged at Rs 29.54 lakh”, the report stated.
The notice stated that inaction on the part of the BPCL officials in responding to emergency situations and lack of expertise in tackling the situation has apparently revealed dereliction of duty and lack of proper approach on the part of the company.
Incidentally, the notice said that the company has committed an offence under Section 8 of the Environmental Protection Act, 1985, Rule 15(1) of the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989, under Section 336 of the IPC and section 58 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Company officials, including the station manager and territorial manager have been directed to appear before the Disaster Management Authority next week and justify why action should not be initiated against the company and officials.