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| State asks mining companies to reduce explosives stock |
| BS REPORTER / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar Sep 30, 2009, 00:24 IST |
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In view of the growing Naxal threat in the state, the Orissa government today advised the companies using explosives for mining purposes to reduce the stock to a level sufficient for only 3-4 days.
This will pre-empt any attempt by the left wing extremists to snatch away huge quantity of explosives being used by the mining companies. Besides, the companies were sounded out to ensure that the explosive vans move only during the day time with adequate security.
While more personnel should be deployed by the mining companies for fortification of magzines, other measures like stock verifications at regular interval, adequate lighting in the mining areas should be taken up by them. The Orissa government has already issued guidelines on security of magazines after the naxal attack on Nalco’s Panchpatmali bauxite mines.
The preparedness of the mining companies to face the naxal attack and their explosives storage and transportation facilities were reviewed in a high level meeting chaired by the chief secretary T K Mishra. Sources said, representatives of various mining companies like Steel Authority of India (SAIL), Nalco, Mahanadi Coalfields, Essel Mining, Rungta Mines, Tata Steel participated in the meeting.
While the national public sector units like SAIL and Nalco have the cover of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), MCL is in the process of getting the cover for its mines located at Talcher, Angul and Jharsuguda.“We have requested the Director General of CISF and hope to get the cover for our coal mines located at Talcher, Angul and Jharsuguda”, a MCL official said.
Meanwhile, the process for constitution of a State Industrial Security Force (SISF), in line with the CISF, has taken off with the state home department readying the necessary bill for the purpose. The bill may be tabled in the next session of the state assembly, sources added.
The government has decided to factor in the security concerns at the time of issue of ‘no objection certificate (NOC)’ by the district collectors for setting up of magazine houses in their respective areas of operation. While the safety aspects were being looked at for magazine dumps earlier, the security aspects will now be factored into. Though the office of the Controller of Explosives oversees the functioning of the magazine dumps, the state government will now be involved in securing the place which was not being done earlier.
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