Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:-


(a) whether all the oil and gas installations/ reserves in the country are safe in the wake of increasing terrorist threats;

(b) if so, whether some private channel personnel have visited some public sector refineries;

(c) if so, whether the Government has received any information with regard to the sting operation carried out by these T.V.Channels;

(d) if so, the details thereof and whether the said T.V. Channels have exposed the poor security arrangements in such installations;

(e) if so, whether the Government has conducted any enquiry in this regard; and

(f) if so, the outcome thereof?

ANSWER


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DINSHA PATEL)

(a) Yes, Sir. Security of oil and gas installations have been strengthened by reinforcing access control measures, intensive patrolling of security personnel and anti-sabotage checks of men and materials in the wake of increasing terrorist threats.

(b) to (f) BPCL intimated that CNN IBN, a TV news channel transmitted a video clipping showing security lapse at their Panipat installation which is a marketing terminal. An enquiry revealed that the incident as televised might have taken place sometime in winter of 2005. The news channel team revisited the installation on 17th July, 2006 for shooting inside the installation. The team was denied permission since the oil installation is a prohibited place. No other untoward incident has been reported from the oil and gas installations of oil companies.