Late last month, the Cuncolim police registered an offence against Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., a company having its unit at the Verna Industrial Estate, for allegedly violating safety regulations regarding the storage and transportation of gunpowder, which led to a shocking blast and resultant blaze at magazine number 1 of the warehouse on March 21.
In his complaint to the Cuncolim police, Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer, Manohar Karekar, claimed that Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. had failed to adhere to the safety guidelines and standing instructions issued during the licensing process for handling explosives. During the investigation that followed, it was discovered that on March 22, the company had illegally stored an massive 11,000 kg of gunpowder in its magazine number 2 without obtaining the necessary sanction from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
The authorities also accused the company of failing to inform police, fire officials, and other emergency responders about the additional stock of explosives in magazine 2 during the rescue operation at magazine 1, which would have caused catastrophic damage and loss of life had the fire from the blast at magazine 1 spread to magazine 2.
Negligence on the part of the company prompted the Salcete mamlatdar to seal the godown used to store gunpowder, while the Cuncolim police sealed the exhibits at the scene of the explosion.
Distressed by the incident which could have quite easily escalated into a tragedy, residents of Naquerim-Betul staged a silent protest at the district collector’s office, demanding action against Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. They strongly opposed the establishment of the company in their community, and said they feared for the safety of their lives and environment particularly after the explosion which had exposed them to significant risk. They also claimed that no investigation had been conducted into the company’s activities even as they demanded an immediate inquiry into the company's
operations.
Further, the villagers raised concerns about the potential contamination of nearby freshwater springs during the monsoon, warning that runoff from the site could pollute vital water sources, which would in turn pose a severe threat humans and wildlife who depend on the water from these streams. They demanded a thorough investigation and the immediate suspension of the company’s operations until the situation was resolved.
For the uninitiated, a gunpowder magazine is a fortified building or structure specifically designed to store gunpowder safely. They are often built with thick walls and curved ceilings to contain any potential explosions and protect against fire, a risk inherent with storing such a flammable substance. The primary function of a gunpowder magazine is to store gunpowder securely, preventing accidental ignition or theft. Historically, gunpowder magazines were crucial in the context of the military, particularly for ships carrying cannons.
Very often, such magazines have multiple small units to isolate explosive material in case of a fire, minimizing damage. Interestingly, while gunpowder itself has been largely replaced by modern smokeless powder, the term "magazine" is still used for storage facilities for explosives and other ammunition.
Therefore, if a magazine contains such a potentially dangerous substance, it should first hold all the requisite licenses and should be allowed to operate only upon a thorough inspection by the authorities concerned. That magazine 2 was holding a large quantity of ammunition without valid permissions says allot about the company's oversight or nonchalance and the authorities' failure to conduct regular inspections to ensure the guidelines are adhered to.
Ultimately, the section that suffers is the common man and had the blaze at Betul on March 21 not been contained in time, the consequences could have been much more deadly and far-reaching. Will the authorities act and will the company concerned realise it missed disaster by a whisker and take proactive steps to follow the storage rules in force, or will this be yet another exercise in futility for the protesting common man?
Let's hope people's objections and demands don't go up in flames.