Big Boost for industrial safety, public security! PM Modi led govt takes 'these' initiatives to give a fillip to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' campaign during COVID-19

The Narendra Modi led central government has taken a number of initiatives to give a push to the economy during COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure enhanced public safety as well as reducing cost of doing business under his ambitious 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' campaign. 

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According to the release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, "Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently implemented reforms to ensure Industrial Safety in critical premises (such as petroleum installations, explosive manufacturing facilities, cylinder filling and storage premises, etc) thus enhancing public safety as well as reducing cost of doing business and creating an enabling ecosystem for domestic as well as international investors."

Now, in this context, rules pertaining to five major areas were examined - Static & Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) [SMPV(U)], Calcium Carbide, Ammonium Nitrate, Gas Cylinders, Petroleum and Explosives.

The major highlights of the reforms under each of the three main amendments are as follows:

1) Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (unfired) (Amendment) Rules, 2021 - The amendment has been done to introduce the concept of Third-Party Inspecting Agency (TPIA) to carry out the work related to certification, testing, inspection and safety audit of the licensed premises. It also has to be noted that the amendment has been done to increase the number of competent persons to conduct testing and certification, the guidelines on minimum experience required has been reduced from 10 years to 5 years. Furthermore, To address the urgent need of Oxygen in sufficient quantity at short notice from surplus areas to deficit areas in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic, permission was accorded to ISO containers to move liquid oxygen for domestic transport on September 23, 2020.

2) Calcium Carbide (Amendment) Rules, 2021 - The amendment has been done to reduce compliance burden, PESO has increased the validity of license for storage of Calcium Carbide from 3 years to 10 years. Also, the need for submitting application and fees to obtain duplicate license has been eliminated and system generated online copy will be sufficient. In order to monitor premises for storage of Calcium Carbide, provision of geo-mapping of the premises has been incorporated in the Rules and will be made available to the concerned state and central authorities.

3) Ammonium Nitrate (Amendment) Rules, 2021 - The amendments include provision for adequate firefighting facilities in storage and handling areas, improvement of flooring in storage and handling area, provision for auction of serviceable seized Ammonium Nitrate and disposal if not fit for use and specification of safety distance from port area has also been prescribed. Again, in order to promote ‘Ease of doing Business’, the transfer of Ammonium Nitrate from one location to another of the same licensee has been permitted now. The Rules have been amended to exclude regulation of stevedores (agency handling loading / unloading of AN on ship).