BETUL DEPOT FIRE
MARGAO
Even as questions are raised whether the magazine No. 2 had the required licence from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to store propellant/ gunpowder at the Naqueri-Betul plateau, social activist from Nagoa-Salcete John Philip Pereira has said he is yet to receive a call from the office of South Goa district Collector for a hearing on his objection to the construction of magazine for storage of propellant at Naqueri.
Pereira had on March 7, 2023 lodged his objection against Hughes Precision Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, Verna Industrial Estate,
with reference to the application made in Form AL-3 under Rule 113 of the Explosives Rule 2005 for construction of magazine for storage of propellant at village Naqueri, Survey No. 82, South Goa.
“One of the grounds of my objection is that company is already producing small-caliber ammunition at the Verna Industrial Estate for the last three years. My contention was that since the company has already commenced production, this permission for handling and use of propellant should have been obtained prior to the manufacturing and production of the ammunition and not after the commencement of the production,” he said.
Secondly, Pereira further contended that the permissions from the local authorities, including the village panchayat, should be taken prior to the operation of the storage site, including NOC for water and electricity connection, which has to be checked prior to approval of this application.
“It is surprising that I had never received a call from the office of district Collector, South since I had lodged my objection on March 7, 2023. I was shocked to hear that the unit witnessed major fire and explosion on Thursday night. I have been left to wonder now why I was never called for hearing on my objection a year ago,” he said.
