Title - Kerala HC asks govt to consider LPG transportation through railways

Kerala News: KOCHI, Kerala High Court said that the government should give the reparation for Chala LPG tanker blast victims immediately and also scrutinise the prospect of making the Indian Oil Corporation pay it.

The court also said that the authorities should reflect on using rail route for the transportation of LPG. Against the backdrop of the Chala LPG tanker blast that killed 20 people, the high court on Thursday directed the state government to check, in consultation with oil companies, the viability of transporting hazardous material through railways.

A division bench of justices C N Ramachandran Nair and C K Abdul Rehim made this suggestion while considering a petition seeking higher compensation for the Chala tragedy victims.

Ferrying hazardous and inflammable substances such as LPG through railways could arrest the recurring accidents involving tanker lorries on Kerala's narrow roads, the court said.

The bench also suggested that LPG bottling plants should be located near railway tracks. Shifting of bottling plants could be avoided if railway lines could be laid to existing ones without much expense.

The petitioner, K R Joy of Kodungalloor in Thrissur, has sought proper regulation of transportation of hazardous material by road to avoid accidents.

Joy has argued in the petition that both the central and state governments were duty bound to regulate transportation of inflammable gases and chemicals using tankers through appropriate law or guidelines. The governments cannot shy away from their responsibility to protect life and property of citizens, the petition said.

Since the entire state was like a large township, transportation of hazardous material by road should not be allowed without safety checks, the petitioner argued.

The state had on Monday last allotted Rs 3 crore as compensation to the relatives of those killed in the accident. Compensation to the families of 17 persons were distributed the same day itself.

The government has announced up to Rs 5 lakh each to those who had suffered more than 40% burns in the August 27 tanker blast.

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the state government to consult with oil companies for arranging transportation of hazardous and explosive materials like LPG by rail.

The suggestion by a division bench comprising of justices CN Ramachandran Nair and CK Abdul Rehim was while considering a petition seeking higher compensation for victims of tanker lorry mishap at Chala in Kannur.

In view of the recurring accidents of tankers operated through narrow roads in Kerala, the best solution will be to arrange for transport of hazardous and explosive materials like LPG in bulk through rail. Risk factor could be completely removed by avoiding transport of bulk LPG through road but only through tankers on rails, the court held.

LPG bottling plants should be established only near railway tracks for transportation of LPG through rail. If railway line could be provided without much cost to existing bottling units, shifting of plants can be avoided, the court suggested.

The petitioner, KR Joy of Kodungalloor in Thrissur, is seeking proper regulation of transportation of hazardous materials by road to avoid mishaps.

Central and state governments are duty bound to regulate transportation of inflammable gases and chemicals using tankers through appropriate law or guidelines and cannot shirk away from their responsibility to protect life and property of citizens, the petition said.

As the entire state is similar to a large township, transportation of inflammable gases and chemicals by road shouldn't be allowed without conducting checks on the safety standards followed by the tankers on a war footing, the petitioner had urged.