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• Raising concerns over the security of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), the Bombay High Court today observed that refineries could be targeted. A division bench of Justices S A Bobade and Mridula Bhatkar was hearing a petition filed by the HPCL, challenging construction of a 23-storey building in the vicinity of their refinery in suburban Chembur. According to HPCL, the project would not only pose a threat to their oil installations, but would also affect the health of the residents in the high rise, due to the constant emission of toxic fumes from the refinery. The construction of the building is coming up on a land owned by Oswal Agro Mills Limited. "Refineries can be targeted," Justice Bobade said, referring to the security aspect.

• The court has directed the municipal corporation to file its reply. According to HPCL, the project has been sanctioned in the I-3 zone, which is a special industrial zone. Apart from the HPCL plant, Rashtriya Chemical and Fertilizers Limited and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre are also located in the vicinity. A confidential report was submitted by the Intelligence Bureau, which stated that "permitting residential-cum-commercial building on Respondent 20's (Oswal) land would be a serious threat to the refinery and installations of petitioner (HPCL)." PTI SP NP

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