The Orissa High Court has sought clarification from the Centre on whether safety advisories issued for ships carrying ammonium nitrate are being strictly implemented at Indian ports, particularly at Paradip Port.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), a division bench comprising Harish Tandon and M S Raman observed in its May 13 order that ammonium nitrate is a “highly inflammable and explosive” substance, and any negligence in its handling could pose a serious threat to public safety and port infrastructure.
The court referred to the advisory issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on September 8 last year, which prescribed stringent safety protocols for handling ammonium nitrate cargo at ports. One of the key directives mandates that vessels carrying more than 5,000 metric tonnes of ammonium nitrate must be shifted from the port area to mid-sea anchorage after daily unloading operations and brought back the following day for continuation of discharge activities.
The bench noted that the PIL filed by Forum for Integrated National Security raises “serious concern on the safety and security of the citizenry of the country”, especially regarding vessels transporting large quantities of ammonium nitrate through Indian ports.
Appearing for the Union government, Prasanna Kumar Parhi sought time to obtain instructions on whether the advisory has been formally adopted and implemented, or if any separate policy decision has been taken by the Centre.
Observing that several vessels carrying ammonium nitrate regularly berth at Paradip Port Authority, the High Court said the presence of the port authority was necessary for effective adjudication of the matter and accordingly issued notice to the port authority.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on May 21.
