Is There Security Threat to TATA Electric, BPCL and BARC?

Should high-rise residential buildings allowed to be constructed overlooking the BPCL and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s refineries , Tata plant and the BARC located in Mahul, Chembur ?

The Supreme Court has sought replies from the Centre and the Maharashtra Government on a plea by the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) alleging a ‘security threat’ to its refinery, Tata Electricity Company’s plant and the Bhaba Atomic Re search Centre.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan asked the Centre and the Maharashtra government as to why the latter should be allowed to construct high-rise residential buildings overlooking the BPCL and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s refineries , Tata plant and the BARC located in Mahul, Chembur and Mumbai.

BPCL has challenged the Bombay High Court’s interim order that admitted the petition that refused to restrain the state government from going ahead with the construction work.

The PSU told the apex court that its affidavit in the High Court had pointed out that the Intelligence Bureau under Ministry of Home Affairs had also accepted that such constructions could be a security threat to the installations.

The PSU said that its refinery had been categorised as “A” category for the purpose of adopting security measures. The Ministry had also said that the BPCL refinery was a sensitive installation. The PSU also said that even it had not constructed apar tments for its staff on the land and it was contemplating to keep it as an open area or for own industrial use.