Icewolf
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2012
- Messages
- 10,503
- Reaction score
- -11
- Country
- Location
Extremists take advantage of unsealed ammonium nitrate imports
25 December 2012 , By Special Correspondent
The ambiguous rules governing the import of the chemical leave open gaping holes in the system
Amid the persisting terror threat from within the country and outside, the handling of ammonium nitrate imports, and the ambiguous rules governing them, continue to leave open gaping holes in the system which ultras keep exploiting.
What is even more alarming is that the policymakers have turned a blind eye to the fact that even a naval base and an entire port are under threat.
Ammonium nitrate, used in the making of fertilizers, is also one of the ingredients of improvised explosive devices extremists rig up to perpetrate terror. India imports a sizeable amount of this explosive for use in its mines, and a portion goes missing.The Visakhapatnam Port, on the east coast, imports this material; it handled 3.4 lakh tonnes in 2011-12. But the chemical is imported unbagged, a practice that leaves ample scope for spillage, and possibly theft.
Ammonium nitrate shall preferably be imported in the bagged form, and whenever it is imported in bulk, it shall have to be bagged suitably by stevedoring agency, duly authorised in writing by importer and having valid licence under these rules, say the rules.
Security measures in place
Saying that ammonium nitrate should preferably be imported in bagged form is akin to saying that terrorists should preferably not kill people. This word [preferably] should be removed, argues aretired Indian Police Service officer. It should be imported, mandatorily, in sealed bags from the point of origin itself, he insists.
When contacted, a senior official of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust confirmed that while the port handled ammonium nitrate imports in bulk under a licence from the Directorate-General of Explosives, it put in place a slew of security measures.
Slippage is taken care of in the port area by Central Industrial Security Force personnel The berths are cleaned up soon after handling.
However, the fact remains that theft during the process of handling is not difficult as bagging is done by 50-100 men at a time. Thereafter, they are sent to explosive manufacturers.
The official, however, admitted that monitoring the warehouses, where the material is stocked up, is a matter of concern. Recently, the Port Trust did not allow private operators to store it up on the port premises.
Yet, about 3,500 tonnes of the 3.5 lakh tonnes imported annually goes missing, and it is attributed to spillage.
Extremists take advantage of unsealed ammonium nitrate imports - The Hindu: Mobile Edition
25 December 2012 , By Special Correspondent
The ambiguous rules governing the import of the chemical leave open gaping holes in the system
Amid the persisting terror threat from within the country and outside, the handling of ammonium nitrate imports, and the ambiguous rules governing them, continue to leave open gaping holes in the system which ultras keep exploiting.
What is even more alarming is that the policymakers have turned a blind eye to the fact that even a naval base and an entire port are under threat.
Ammonium nitrate, used in the making of fertilizers, is also one of the ingredients of improvised explosive devices extremists rig up to perpetrate terror. India imports a sizeable amount of this explosive for use in its mines, and a portion goes missing.The Visakhapatnam Port, on the east coast, imports this material; it handled 3.4 lakh tonnes in 2011-12. But the chemical is imported unbagged, a practice that leaves ample scope for spillage, and possibly theft.
Ammonium nitrate shall preferably be imported in the bagged form, and whenever it is imported in bulk, it shall have to be bagged suitably by stevedoring agency, duly authorised in writing by importer and having valid licence under these rules, say the rules.
Security measures in place
Saying that ammonium nitrate should preferably be imported in bagged form is akin to saying that terrorists should preferably not kill people. This word [preferably] should be removed, argues aretired Indian Police Service officer. It should be imported, mandatorily, in sealed bags from the point of origin itself, he insists.
When contacted, a senior official of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust confirmed that while the port handled ammonium nitrate imports in bulk under a licence from the Directorate-General of Explosives, it put in place a slew of security measures.
Slippage is taken care of in the port area by Central Industrial Security Force personnel The berths are cleaned up soon after handling.
However, the fact remains that theft during the process of handling is not difficult as bagging is done by 50-100 men at a time. Thereafter, they are sent to explosive manufacturers.
The official, however, admitted that monitoring the warehouses, where the material is stocked up, is a matter of concern. Recently, the Port Trust did not allow private operators to store it up on the port premises.
Yet, about 3,500 tonnes of the 3.5 lakh tonnes imported annually goes missing, and it is attributed to spillage.
Extremists take advantage of unsealed ammonium nitrate imports - The Hindu: Mobile Edition
