Centre to amend explosives act to regulate ammonium nitrate use

New Delhi, Sep 30 (UNI) In view of the increasing use of ammonium nitrate as an explosive for terror attacks by militants, the Centre today deliberated upon amending rules under the explosives act required to strengthen the regulatory mechanisms for the manufacture, storage, transport, sale and use of explosives.

The Home Ministry held a high-level meeting at which it was decided to establish institutionalised arrangements at state level for monitoring compliance by persons holding licenses for the manufacture, stocking, sale and use of explosives, including Ammonium Nitrate.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Working Group which had been set up to strengthen the framework for regulating the manufacture, storage, transport, sale and use of explosives that was held here under the Chairmanship of Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Department of Revenue and officers of the Ministries of Industries and Defence, Intelligence Bureau and the Petroleum and Explosives Substances Organisation (PESO).

The recommendations of the Sub-Group, which had been set up at the level of Joint Secretaries of the Ministries concerned to examine the existing legal and administrative framework, were discussed in the meeting.

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