This story is from August 5, 2020

NGT: Do petrol bunks have vapour recovery systems?

Following a complaint that petrol bunks in Tamil Nadu didn’t fit Vapour Recovery Systems (VRS), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a status report from oil companies.
NGT: Do petrol bunks have vapour recovery systems?
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CHENNAI: Following a complaint that petrol bunks in Tamil Nadu didn’t fit Vapour Recovery Systems (VRS), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a status report from oil companies.
Several reports have stated that residing near a fuel station can pose a health risk because petrol, which has volatile organic compounds such as benzene and other carcinogens, can be harmful once it evaporates.

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This was one of the most-discussed topics in New Delhi during the 2019 air pollution crisis. So the NGT principal bench in July 2019 directed all oil companies to fit VRS at all retail outlets that have a sales potential of 300 kilolitres a month.
Citing this, advocate VBR Menon filed a case with NGT Southern Zone in Chennai, which was taken up for hearing on Tuesday. His petition said that a large number of fuel stations are situated near residential buildings, schools and parks and petrol vapour escaping from stations could cause serious harm.
The oil companies must be well aware of the serious environmental hazards and air pollution and yet they were ignoring their social responsibility, he said, requesting the NGT to issue directions to put opening of new bunks on hold until VRS were fitted.

Objecting to this, advocate Abdul Saleem, who was appearing on behalf of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Baharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Nayara Energy Limited said the petitioner’s similar plea in the Madras high court had been dismissed. Referring to Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, Saleem said VRS should be installed within three months only from the day sales touch 100 kilolitres a month.
After listening to arguments, NGT members Justice K Ramakrishnan and Saibal Dasgupta directed oil companies to file a status report on VRS implementation in Tamil Nadu along with sales details. Next hearing is on September 22.
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