Call for stringent steps on storage of ammonium nitrate

FBV sees risk of terror outfits smuggling the chemical

Forum for Better Visakha convener and former Union Energy Secretary E.A.S. Sarma has asked the Home Ministry to take stringent measures on storage and movement of ammonium nitrate.

Expressing concern over storage facilities for the material, very often used for making bombs by terrorists in New Delhi and other places, Mr. Sarma wrote a letter to the Home Secretary cautioning on the risk of smuggling the chemical for indulging in terrorism.

Attaching the representations made by him earlier, he said the need to exercise vigilance over ammonium nitrate should be understood by every one.

Not a single letter among these had ever been acknowledged, he regretted and remarked that such was the public accountability of the government on such an important matter.

It took years for the government to notify ammonium nitrate as an “explosive” substance under the relevant Act. “Should we take such a long time? We are yet to issue the rules under the Explosives Act with special reference to ammonium nitrate. The European Commission has already issued a directive to enhance tracking technology for explosives,” he stated.

‘No tracking system'

There have been cases of truck loads of ammonium nitrate missing in transit. “We could have introduced GPS to track them. We have not done it yet.

Whenever I mentioned the need to be vigilant on the movement of ammonium nitrate, the response I received from the local officials has been one of indifference. Neither the Government of India nor the State Government has sent the right kind of message to their officers,” he said.

Storage depots

Mr. Sarma pointed that through a port like Visakhapatnam, annually one lakh tonnes of ammonium nitrate was imported. None had kept track of why such huge imports were permitted nor have the authorities cared to make random, surprise checks of storage and transportation of this explosive material.

Many of these storage depots were located in prohibited areas, but the officials were in league with them to allow their illegalities, he regretted.