MP Govt Cautious of 81,000 Quintal of Stored Ammonium Nitrate After Beirut Catastrophe

The explosion in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, that killed 170 people, created a huge uproar that led to the resignation of the whole Lebanese government overnight; which was led by Prime Minister Hasan Diab. The blast took place in a vault of seized ammonium nitrate kept at the port of Beirut since 2013. Since then, all countries are issuing alerts about ammonium nitrate kept in their respective warehouses.

After Tamil Nadu, preparations are on for disposal of 81,000 quintals of ammonium nitrate kept in Madhya Pradesh. After the Beirut explosion, the state government is quite vigilant over its security.

Out of 81,000 quintal ammonium nitrate in Madhya Pradesh, 95 percent reserves are in only two districts Singrauli and Dewas. Dewas alone has a stock of 40,000 quintal ammonium nitrate. The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation(PESO) monitors the storage of ammonium nitrate.

It has 3 officers and 7 office workers in Madhya Pradesh. Every month, the district administration reports to the PESO about the status of the stock and after that, the PESO investigates it and takes action if any trouble is sensed.

Ammonium nitrate is allowed to be stored in 72 places in Madhya Pradesh. But the maximum is kept in Singrauli and Dewas, followed by Anuppur and Katni. According to PESO sources, several protocols have been prescribed for the storage, safety and operation of ammonium nitrate. The movement of explosives is supervised by PESO and District Administration officials.

The biggest licence for ammonium nitrate in Madhya Pradesh is with the same firm which manufactures fertilisers. Apart from this, government mining companies are also licenced in Singrauli, Anuppur, Shahdol, and Betul. Storage of 45,000 quintals and 31,000 quintals is allowed in two places in Dewas while 1,200 quintals in Anuppur and 3500 quintals in Katni is allowed.