NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, AUG 6
PMK founder S Ramadoss has urged the state and central governments to take immediate steps to safely dispose of 740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate reportedly stocked in Chennai harbour for years, saying a possible Beirut-like incident should be avoided.
சென்னை கிடங்கில் உள்ள அமோனியம் நைட்ரேட்டால் அதேபோன்ற வெடிவிபத்து ஏற்படும் ஆபத்து உள்ளது. அதைத் தடுக்க சென்னை கிடங்கில் உள்ள அமோனியம் நைட்ரேட் வெடிமருந்தை பாதுகாப்பாக அப்புறப்படுத்தி, உரம் தயாரிப்பு போன்ற பிற தேவைகளுக்கு பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்!
#AmmoniumNitrate #Explosive— Dr S RAMADOSS (@drramadoss) August 6, 2020
Expressing concern over the reported huge quantity of seized ammonium nitrate kept in containers at a freight station here since 2015, he said the uncleared explosive substance could turn out to be a potential risk and that it should be safely disposed of and utilised for purpose like composting.
“There is a risk of a similar explosion due to ammonium nitrate in the Chennai warehouse. To prevent this, the ammonium nitrate explosive substance in the warehouse should be safely disposed of and used for other purposes such as composting,” he said in a tweet.
Tuesday’s explosion in Lebanon’s port city of Beirut killed 135 people and injured about 4,000.
Buildings were damaged for miles around the city after 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used in fertilisers, stored at the facility for six years, reportedly caused the explosion.
Apparently referring to media reports, the PMK leader said in another tweet, “The news that 740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate explosive material have been stored in a warehouse near the Chennai port for five years is very shocking. This chemical substance is the cause of the biggest explosion in Lebanon!”
Reports in a section of the media claimed the ammonium nitrate stored in 37 containers in the city was imported by a Karur-based firm and seized by Customs officials as the chemical was brought without obtaining the required licence and permission during 2015.
CBIC directs field units to ensure safe keeping of explosives
Based on media reports, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has directed all the units across the country and field formations to immediately verity and ensure safety parameters are in place wherever seized explosives are stocked on Thursday.
.@nsitharamanoffc @FinMinIndia pic.twitter.com/ID6CyNbNsr
— CBIC (@cbic_india) August 6, 2020
