Naidu pushing, Centre rushes with ban on NG explosives

The Centre has banned nitroglycerine-based (NG) explosives, two years ahead of the planned phase-out. The move comes after repeated protests...

The Centre has banned nitroglycerine-based (NG) explosives, two years ahead of the planned phase-out. The move comes after repeated protests by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who only recently survived a landmine blast by Naxalites.

The Nagpur-based Department of Explosives had announced earlier that NG explosives would be phased out by April 2006. The Central notification, however, came on January 21, banning the explosives from April, 2004.

Naidu has been lobbying against the explosive for a while and had written to the Centre, demanding the ban. He argued that Naxalites preferred this class of explosives as they are cheap, have a long shelf life and are easy to handle.

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The ban has sparked an outcry from NG manufacturers and agencies that use the explosives. T.C. Kothari, MD of Noble Explochem, a Nagpur-based firm that produces NG, said: ‘‘The ban is outrageous and has been done to placate Naidu ahead of the polls. I have already moved the HC here against the phase-out.’’

Sanjay Garg, joint secretary with the Department of Industrial Policy, denied the ban was because of political pressure. ‘‘The Home Ministry is the supreme authority. It had called all NG manufacturers for a hearing,’’ he says.

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