–-SATISH HANDA
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij strongly directed officers of MC Ambala to recover long pending amount worth Rs 17 crore towards lease property rent from Indian Oil Corporation Ambala depot functioning since the year 1982 on government land at G.T. Road Ambala Cantt since after the year 2010 when lease period expired. IOC took land on lease from Haryana government on 30 years lease to be renewed after every 30 years but MC Ambala refused to extend lease period further because to IOC depot Ambala located quite close to the thickly populated residential area Ambala Cantt posing a severe threat to the life of lakhs of residents in the town.
The residents of Ambala Cantt raised hue and cry after the incident of explosion at IOC depot Jaipur in 2009 in which 11 persons were reported died in the mishap. On public demand, MC Ambala wrote to Ministry of Petroleum to shift IOC depot from residential area Ambala Cantt to a safer place. Meanwhile, oil depot of another oil company also shifted their depot located on 12 Cross Road Ambala Cantt on the request of Haryana state government. Meanwhile, IOC management at Ambala Cantt moved a writ in Punjab and Haryana High Court for extension in lease deed for another 30 years since fuel is being supplied to Ambala depot from Mathura and Panipat refineries through pipe line for onward supply to all Indian Oil dealers in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh, Leh besides supply to Indian Air Force and all army units in North.
Since the case is yet under trial in the court, IOC stopped lease rent payment to MC Ambala although regularly paying taxes to Haryana government as well as government in the centre worth Rs 2132 crore annually. Moreover, IOC officers are not admitting amount worth Rs 17 crore pending towards rent deed as claimed by MC Ambala. Meanwhile, Haryana state government has clearly refused to extend lease period further and not prepared for threat to the life of lakhs of residents in Ambala to Ministry of Petroleum as well as Indian Oil Corporation.
