New Delhi: As India advances towards a USD 5-trillion economy and transitions to a diversified energy mix, hydrocarbons will continue to play a major role, making safety in oil and gas operations a matter of national interest, a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Monday.
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Addressing a conference on fire safety in the oil and natural gas sector organised by FICCI, Sunil Kumar Jha, Director General, Directorate General Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards, said ensuring safety, continuity and resilience of oil and gas operations “is not just an industrial priority but a shared responsibility and a matter of national interest.”
Emphasising preparedness and regulatory compliance, Narendra Singh Bundela, Inspector General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), said that for a fast-growing and independent economy like India, long-term energy security is indispensable.
He added that while protecting assets is important, “ensuring robust safety procedures and strict adherence to government guidelines, industry standards, and regulations is equally critical for sustaining the sector.”
Sanjib Biswas, Director (MO-LPG) at the Oil Industry Safety Directorate, said the apex safety body under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas plays a proactive and preventive role in safeguarding the oil and gas sector.
He noted that OISD strengthens industry safety through robust safety standards, regular audits, regulation of offshore operations, capacity building of safety professionals, and alignment of Indian practices with global benchmarks through international cooperation.
Ayush Gupta, Co-Chair, FICCI Committee on Corporate Security & DRR and Director (Human Resources), GAIL (India) Limited, said the oil and gas sector is central to India’s energy security but remains highly sensitive to operational risks.
He warned that even a small lapse can have far-reaching consequences for human life, assets, the environment and public confidence, adding that safety “is not merely a technical or regulatory requirement, but a moral responsibility and professional obligation guiding every decision, system design, and operational process.”
In closing remarks, Rituraj Mehta, Co-Chair, FICCI Committee on Corporate Security & DRR and Group Safety Head, Adani Group, said zero incidents should not remain an aspiration.
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“In high-risk sectors like oil and natural gas, safety excellence has to be built into everyday operations and decision-making,” he said, stressing that effective fire safety and risk management require close collaboration among industry, regulators, responders, technology providers and policymakers with shared accountability.