A petroleum depot in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Nov. 4: A number of organisations and residents of the city are demanding shifting of petroleum depots from the residential area of Khetrajpur to another place. They allege that the depots pose a threat to the lives of the local people. Their concern, however, is yet to be addressed.

“The depots in the residential area of the city are posing a threat to the lives of the people. In 2009, 12 people had died and hundreds had been injured after an oil depot caught fire in Jaipur of Rajasthan. We do not want such incidents to happen in Sambalpur. Hence, we have been demanding shifting of the depots from the residential area,” said president of Consumer Awareness Association of Sambalpur, Raghunath Kar.

“In a letter in 2010, we had requested the Union petroleum minister to shift the depots from here. But, he has not responded to our plea,” he said.

When the petroleum depot was established here, it was not a residential area. But, things have changed now. This part of the city has now become a residential area. Schools and various business establishments have come up at Khetrajpur.

“We had also drawn the attention of the State Human Rights Commission in 2008 and sought its direction to shift the depot from Khetrajpur. The commission had accordingly asked the authorities to shift the depots from here. But, the authorities are yet to put their act together,” said Dilip Padhee, a resident of Khetrajpur.

Sambalpur collector Mrinalini Darswal said the district administration had forwarded the memorandum of the people to the government. “It is up to the government to decide on this issue and take appropriate action,” she said.