BPCL receives a CPCB warning and is fined Rs 2 crore as environmental reparation

23 Oct 2023 , 09:47 AM

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued a warning to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on October 19 for violating its regulations and neglecting to install Vapour Recovery Systems.

On October 20, BPCL informed the stock exchanges that the CPCB had demanded it to pay Rs 2 crore in environmental damages since it had not installed vapour recovery devices at gasoline filling stations and storage terminals by the deadline.

In accordance with Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the petroleum corporation was given the directive.

‘Under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, BPCL is to pay environmental compensation of Rs 2 crore to CPCB, for non-installation of Vapour Recovery Systems within the timeline, as prescribed by the Supreme Court and CPCB,’ the notice stated.

The business stated that it is reviewing the notice and will soon provide a suitable response. In the meanwhile, it has asked the CPCB to stop and release the company from the notice.

When vehicles are filled with diesel or gasoline, displaced vapour that comes from inside the fuel tank is captured by vapour recovery devices. These volatile substances, especially benzene and ozone, are successfully controlled by the recovery systems.

Oil companies with retail outlets with a capacity of 300 KL/M or more were given instructions by the CPCB to construct stage one and stage two vapour recovery equipment in February 2016. ‘Petrol refuelling stations are a major source of emissions of benzene, which is a carcinogenic compound, and people nearby, including the workers engaged in the dispensing activities, may potentially be at risk of exposure to benzene,’ the CPCB had stated.

Bharat Petroleum was fined Rs 1 crore by the CPCB in December 2018 for failing to install vapour recovery systems at fueling locations in Delhi-NCR.

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