Nagpur: Following the recent industrial blast in the district, Nagpur District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar has ordered a comprehensive safety inspection of all explosive and chemical companies in the district to strengthen disaster management and workplace safety.
The inspections will be conducted jointly by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), the police department and the revenue department over the next month. Authorities will review safety mechanisms and ensure that industries adopt the necessary preventive measures to avoid accidents.
The decision comes in the wake of the March 1 explosion at SBL Energy Limited, which claimed the lives of 19 people and left 23 others injured. After the incident, Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule chaired a review meeting on March 2, directing officials to reassess safety systems in all explosive and chemical industries across the district. He had also instructed companies to prepare updated emergency response and disaster management plans.
In line with these directives, a review meeting on industrial disaster management measures was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Dr Vipin Itankar, who also heads the District Disaster Management Authority.
During the meeting, officials discussed standard operating procedures (SOPs), proposed legal amendments and new safety regulations. The District Collector directed industries to immediately rectify any deficiencies identified during inspections and ensure strict compliance with safety norms.
Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harsh Poddar also addressed the meeting via video conferencing. He emphasised that industrialists must give the highest priority to worker safety and allocate adequate funds in company budgets for safety measures. He also stressed the need for regular training for employees and the availability of proper safety equipment at workplaces.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Collector Pravin Mahire, Resident Deputy Collector Anup Khande, District Disaster Management Officer Ankush Gawande, sub-divisional officers from across the district, representatives from PESO and DISH, and officials from industrial companies. Senior officials from DISH and PESO also made presentations on industrial safety and disaster preparedness.
