Nagpur PESO Unit Grapples with Severe Staff Shortage, Compromising Explosives Safety Inspections
The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), a critical regulatory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is facing a significant operational crisis in its Nagpur unit. With merely two officers assigned to this key region, the agency is stretched too thin to conduct essential inspections at local explosives manufacturing facilities, raising alarms over potential safety lapses.
Inspection Mandate Overwhelmed by Limited Manpower
PESO is mandated by law to inspect manufacturing units before granting operational licenses and to perform periodic follow-up visits to ensure compliance with safety protocols. However, sources reveal that the Nagpur unit, which oversees a dense cluster of explosives producers, lacks a fixed inspection schedule due to severe manpower constraints. The two available officers are forced to prioritize routine administrative tasks, leaving inspections delayed or neglected.
This staffing shortage is particularly concerning given Nagpur's strategic importance. The city hosts PESO's national headquarters at the CGO Complex, and its local unit is based in Gondkhairi, an area densely populated with manufacturing plants. Currently, there are 48 licensed facilities operated by five to six major manufacturers under PESO's jurisdiction in this region.
Safety Protocols and Recent Incident Highlight Risks
Under the Explosives Rules 2008, PESO's chief controller holds the authority to test raw materials and ingredients at any time. Regulations strictly require that all explosives be removed immediately after processing, either moved to the next stage or stored in designated magazines. No residual material, including waste, is permitted to remain in manufacturing buildings to prevent accidents.
Initial investigations into a recent blast at SBL Energy Limited suggest that explosives had accumulated in the building where the incident occurred, pointing to possible violations of these safety norms. This underscores the critical need for robust and regular inspections to mitigate such hazards.
Shared Responsibility and Reporting Gaps
While PESO is the primary licensing authority, the Explosives Rules 2008 also empower executive magistrates and authorized police officials to conduct inspections of explosives magazines every six months. These inspections are meant to verify compliance with the Act and assess security measures, with reports required to be submitted to PESO, the district magistrate, and the Superintendent of Police.
However, sources indicate that such reports from police or district administration inspections are rarely filed with PESO, creating gaps in oversight and coordination. This lack of consistent reporting further exacerbates the safety risks in an already under-resourced regulatory environment.
The combination of PESO's staffing crisis and inadequate inter-agency reporting poses a serious threat to public safety in Nagpur's explosives manufacturing sector, highlighting an urgent need for administrative reinforcement and improved regulatory enforcement.
