Nagpur's PESO Under Fire for Safety Lapses After Multiple Deadly Blasts
From its headquarters at the lofty CGO Complex in Seminary Hills in Nagpur, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) stands as the apex body monitoring safety compliance across approximately 500,000 units nationwide. These units span critical industries from oil and gas to explosives manufacturing. However, in its own backyard of Nagpur, a disturbing pattern has emerged: five devastating blasts over three years have claimed 42 lives, exposing PESO as a frigid and toothless regulator that consistently fails to implement remedial measures.
A Trail of Tragedy and Inaction
The most recent catastrophe occurred at SBL Energy Limited in Kalmeshwar, where detonators exploded, resulting in 22 fatalities, predominantly women. For this grim trail of deaths, PESO officials have repeatedly offered a stock response: the agency is critically understaffed. This same justification surfaces after every tragedy, yet investigations reveal a more troubling reality. Despite claims of a manpower crunch, it has been confirmed that PESO did conduct safety audits and checks. Shockingly, these findings were buried in internal files, never shared with relevant authorities.
Institutional Excellence Claims Versus Powerless Reality
Ironically, PESO, which operates under the Union commerce ministry, proclaims itself as an institution of excellence. Simultaneously, officials argue they lack prosecutorial powers, stating that only the district collector or local police can take action against safety lapses. A post-mortem analysis following the SBL accident uncovered that PESO had indeed performed safety audits at some factories and identified violations. However, these reports were withheld from both the district administration and police, both key stakeholders in enforcing the government's explosives safety rules alongside PESO.
Revelations and Official Concerns
This critical information came to light during meetings convened after the blast, with Nagpur divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari expressing deep concern over PESO's aloof stance. In response to the SBL incident, the divisional commissioner's office has been tasked with compiling and submitting reports on all accidents from the past three years to the commerce ministry, PESO's parent body. Officials at PESO maintain that the agency probes each accident and presents reports to the district collector, who then initiates magisterial inquiries. Yet, state government officials counter that PESO must also share day-to-day findings on safety lapses to prevent future disasters.
Proposed Reforms and Future Measures
A source emphasized, "If PESO conducts periodic inspections, even such reports need to be shared." In a significant move, divisional commissioner Bidari announced plans to mandate PESO to disclose audit findings with the district administration. Additionally, discussions have highlighted that PESO could issue deadlines to ammunition manufacturers for corrective actions and even suspend licenses if necessary. Currently, a rehabilitation package is being developed for those injured and maimed in earlier accidents, as stated by Bidari, marking a step toward accountability and support for victims.
