Nagpur, March 1 The lack of proper safety audits of companies that manufacture explosives has led to an increase in the number of explosions at such facilities in the Nagpur district, according to former Maharashtra home minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh, who made the claim on Sunday. His statement came in the wake of a devastating explosion earlier in the day at the detonator packing unit of mining and industrial explosives manufacturer SBL Energy Limited in Raulgaon in Katol tehsil here, which resulted in 18 deaths and 24 injuries.
Deshmukh, a former MLA from Katol, said he had written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union ministers, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), and related departments six months ago, requesting safety audits of such companies in Nagpur, but the matter was ignored.
He added that he had written after explosions at units in Bazargaon in the district.
"This is a serious issue. However, the complete neglect (of safety audits) has led to such a major incident today. If the safety audit had been conducted on time, this tragedy could have been avoided," Deshmukh asserted.
The explosion at SBL Energy Limited is tragic and shocking, and has created a sense of insecurity among workers in the sector and the area, he said.
"It is clear that the Union and state governments have completely ignored the demand for safety audits. The PESO's national headquarters is in Nagpur itself, yet major explosion incidents are occurring here. This is a grave matter. Recurring accidents indicate serious violations of safety rules," the NCP (SP) leader alleged.
PESO, under the Centre, is the country's nodal technical regulator for hazardous substances like petroleum, explosives, and compressed gases.
Deshmukh also said the state government must provide Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the families of each of the deceased, while the concerned firm must pay Rs 50 lakh each.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those who died in the blast, as well as Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said his government would provide Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased, while the concerned firm will also provide financial aid to the families of those affected.
Deshmukh, who also visited the hospital to meet those injured, said that safety audits must be carried out immediately at firms manufacturing explosives in the Bazargaon area.
