The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 8th February 2021 has issued the Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Draft Rules 2021 to further amend the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 and the ministry has invited Objections or suggestions from the public which shall be addressed to the Additional Secretary (Explosives), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi – 110 107 within 30 days.
The Amendment is brought under rule 12 which deals with restriction on unauthorised persons, provision of guards and safety distance for storehouse in which the following sub-clause has been inserted:
All flooring in ammonium nitrate storage and handling area shall be without open drains, traps, pits or pockets into which any molten ammonium nitrate is able to flow and be confined in the event of fire
Further under rule 18(3) all the imported Ammonium Nitrate shall be immediately removed from the port to the stevedores licensed storehouse situated beyond 500 meters from the port notified area.
The Disposal of Ammonium Nitrate shall be in accordance to the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Trans Boundary Movement) Rules, 2008 enacted under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
