Explosives regulator PESO understaffed, govt plans major review

Nagpur: Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) - country's apex regulator for the two sectors headquartered in Nagpur - has been grappling with severe manpower shortages for years. With barely 100 officers overseeing nearly 3.5 lakh manufacturing units while also processing similar number of fresh applications, the ministry of commerce, its parent body, has now decided to review the agency's staffing needs. The organisation has come under sharp criticism following a series of accidents at explosive manufacturing units over the past two to three years, which have claimed nearly 40 lives in Nagpur. The most recent incident at SBL Ltd alone left at least 26 dead, most of them women. Officials within PESO suggest increasing staff strength would enable better inspection of manufacturing processes and help identify lapses more effectively.The govt has recently sanctioned 50 additional posts in the technical cadre. However, officials acknowledge this may still fall short. "A comprehensive review of PESO's manpower requirements will be conducted, based on which further posts may be recommended," said Dr Kajal, joint secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the ministry of commerce. PESO functions under DPIIT.Dr Kajal was in Nagpur to review key regulatory reforms implemented by PESO, including measures aimed at improving ease of doing business.According to PESO officials, enhanced staffing would allow the organisation to prioritise critical areas and deploy more technical officers for on-ground inspections, ensuring closer monitoring of manufacturing processes.Meanwhile, PESO has initiated steps to phase out electrical detonators held by users, replacing them with electronic detonators. Unlike electrical detonators, which can be triggered without a dedicated system, electronic detonators require a designated device assigned to a specific user. This transition is expected to enable end-to-end monitoring and prevent diversion or misuse. A dedicated software system for tracking detonators is likely to be operational within a year.Concerns over explosive safety were heightened recently after a gelatin stick was found abandoned on a private premises in the city, raising fears of potential misuse.Addressing the media, officials emphasised that PESO's primary role is to grant licences, while industries are equally responsible for adhering to safety norms. Plans are also underway to appoint nodal officers to coordinate with industries and local authorities for better regulatory oversight.