Excerpt from DNA, reported by Sreejiraj Eluvangal on February 18, 2010: Read Full Article

Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) has obtained the go-ahead from the ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) to conduct a feasibility study to shift its Chembur, Mumbai refining operations to a new facility being planned further south on the Konkan coast.

The move is expected to save the company up to Rs 1,000 crore per year, nearly double its profits during the first nine months of the current year.

A company official confirmed the development. HPCL is in the process of starting its feasibility study and it may take up to a year before further plans are firmed up, said the official, who was not officially authorised to speak to the media on the issue.

The company officials had, in January, said the firm is looking at setting up a Rs 20,000 crore refinery on the Konkan coast, but had not clarified whether the Mumbai plant would be shut down or not.
The primary reasons for considering a lock, stock and barrel transmigration out of the city are the 3% octroi imposed by the Bombay Municipal Corp (BMC) and the non availability of land for expansion around its plant in Chembur, Mumbai.

If all goes well in the coming months, a huge chunk of land, nearly 340 acres, is likely to be up for grabs in the densely populated eastern suburb of Chembur. According to reports, the state-run HPCL, which is currently based in Chembur, has decided to shift its base
to Ratnagiri.

This move will open up 340 acres of land, which can accommodate up to four amusement parks like Esselworld or 15 Oval maidans. However, if the land is used for housing and construction it can generate between 60,000 and 2.7 lakh houses.

All in all, the residents are finally breathing a sigh of relief. “It will definitely be a boon for Chembur, as this area had turned into a gas chamber. If this space comes up we will have enough room for development and an open space to breathe easy,” said Dr Vijay Sangole, a resident.

“Any industry moving out of the city is a welcome move, as it will reduce pollution. We hope some land will come up for recreational activities,” added M Deobhakta, another resident.

However, the MPCB claims that the government-run HPCL doesn’t pollute the environment, as the effluents released by the company are under the norms. But it will surely mean that the air will be more hygienic.

A 24-year-old boxer from Akola - who was jobless despite reaching the state level in the sport - hanged herself at her father’s home at HPCL Colony at Vashinaka, Chembur on Friday evening.

Priyanka Belkade, the third of four daughters, moved from Akola to Mumbai in November last year and had been suffering from depression since then, family members told the police.

The family lived in Akola, while Priyanka’s father Digamber worked in Mumbai. Priyanka and her younger sister Komal had come to the city in search of better prospects.

According to the RCF police, Digamber, a former defence man, had gone to Akola to meet his wife and son when the incident occurred. He came to know about the suicide from his elder daughter Rita Tayade, who had been asked to stay with Priyanka in his absence.

Around 5.30 pm on Friday, Rita had taken her child to a garden in the  locality. When they returned an hour later, Rita found the door to the flat ajar.

The HPCL colony at Chembur where Priyanka lived with her family

In her statement, she said, “Rushing into the house, I saw my sister hanging from the ceiling. Immediately, I took the help of the neighbours to rush her to Inlaks hospital. Later, she was shifted to Rajawadi hospital, where she was declared dead before admission.”

“The girl’s father, who returned to Mumbai on Saturday, said she had been depressed since November. The depression could be because she could not make it big in her professional career,” said Shirish Shelke, senior inspector of RCF Police Station.

Sources said that Priyanka quit training sessions at her club in Akola and moved to Mumbai due to family problems.

Her younger sister Komal had won medals at state and national level boxing championships, but Priyanka was not so lucky.

“She was a talented sportsperson. She had won the state level boxing championship, but missed the national title narrowly in 2008. Her sister Komal is also a professional boxer and has excelled both at state and national levels,” said Suchita Dhamale, public relations and media officer of the Maharashtra Amateur Boxing Association

The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat disposed of the PSU’s plea saying HC should decide the matter within three months. The apex court has also asked the private developers not to hand over occupancy of the flats to their owners till court takes a final view on the grievance.
It said that any construction activity within these three months would be subject to final outcome of BPCL’s petition. It also said, “No occupations are permitted to be made till then.” BPCL had challenged HC’s order that refused to restrain the Maharashtra government from going ahead with the construction work.
 

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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.