Residents of Al-Ahsa districts have demanded the relocation of gas stations to faraway sites. They say they find the gas stations and accompanying car workshops noisy that disturb the quiet life in residential districts.

Also, the residents fear that such stations stock plenty of petrol and petroleum products and thus pose fire and explosion hazards to the area if safety specifications are not scrupulously adhered to.

Abdullah Abdul Wahid, a resident of the city, said authorities should allay growing fears of the residents by finding a suitable solution to the problem.

“Workers are seen handling inflammable substance with negligence and they also do not care for cleanliness resulting in the spread of an unpleasant odor in the neighborhood,” Khaled Buhassan, another resident, said.

According to Ibrabim Al-Arbash, the problem can be solved by handing over the gas stations to big companies that offer quality service and strictly adhere to security regulations.

Col. Mansour Al-Dossary, spokesman of Civil Defense in the Eastern Province, dismissed the residents’ demand saying that security officials of Civil Defense regularly inspect all fuel stations to ensure that no violations are committed and they don’t jeopardize the security of the people, a local daily reported.

If any fuel station is found violating safety regulations, Civil Defense takes instant steps to rectify the shortcomings and punish the culprits, Al-Dossary said, adding that only five gas stations have been found violating safety regulations in the province during the current year.

Buhassan insisted however that the safety of life and property at locations where gas stations operate can be guaranteed only with strict supervision and implementation of all safety regulations. However, some fuel stations still fail to meticulously follow all safety regulations; their fire extinguishers could be outdated and the fire hydrants used for other needs.

“Owners of gas stations should implement all measures in order to ensure the safety of the people as they are aware of the hazards involved in the negligent handling of petrol and petroleum products. They should also keep in mind that it is their responsibility to operate without causing any worry to the residents in the area,” Buhassan added.

He said some workers at fuel stations are found to be negligent in adopting safety measures such as checking the validity of fire extinguishers.

“I appeal to the workers to take care of all safety devices at their establishment in the interest of their own and public safety,” he said.