Lok Sabha Question No. 181 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: Fires in Ordnance Depots
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KALYAN BANERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK  SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.181

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  JULY, 2016

## FIRES IN ORDNANCE DEPOTS

## *181.  SHRI  KALYAN  BANERJEE:

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Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of recurrent fires in the Ordnance depots in recent past, if so, the details thereof along with the loss incurred as a result thereof;
- (b) whether any Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) exist to prevent ammunition fires in Ordnance depots, if so the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has undertaken any safety audit of Ordnance Depot and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  action  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  tread  caution  on  blast probability and to restore adequate ammunition supply therein?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                      (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

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(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 181 FOR ANSWER ON 29.7.2016

Apart  from  the  fire  incident  at  Central  Ammunition  Depot  (CAD) Pulgaon, Maharashtra on 31 st May 2016, no other fire incident has taken place in  any  Ordnance  Depot  of  the  Indian  Army  during  the  last  three years.  In the fire incident at Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Pulgaon, Maharashtra  on  31 st May  2016,  there  were  19  fatal  and  17  non-fatal casualties, and the total loss of equipment and stores as per preliminary estimation is approximately Rs.7.90 crores.

There  are  existing  Standard  Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  and regular  advisories  are  issued  for  prevention  of  fire.    In  addition,  the following measures are also in place for preventive checks:-

- (i) The  ammunitions  are  stored  /  handled  as  per  the  established norms and regulations.
- (ii) Annual administrative inspection of all ammunition depots / units is carried out.
- (iii)  Regular fire fighting practices are carried out.

The  safety  audit  of  Ordnance  Depots  is  a  regular  exercise.    The outcome  of  these  audits  includes  the  measures  to  be  undertaken  to avoid such incidents.

The ammunition storage is inherently a risky proposition.  These risks are minimized by adapting prescribed storage norms laid down by the  regulatory  body  i.e.,  Centre  for  Fire,  Explosives  and  Environment Safety  (CFEES).    With  regard  to  regular  ammunition  supply,  annual provisioning  review  of  all  ammunition  items  is  carried  out  by  Indian Army and the deficiencies are made up through established procurement procedures from Ordnance Factory / Trade / Import.

On the basis of recommendations of Court of Inquiry on recent fire incident  at  CAD,  Pulgaon,  Maharashtra  and  subsequent  deliberations with all stakeholders, the following has been approved by the Government in order to prevent recurrence of such incidents:-

- (i) Disposal of all defective segregated  mines (Anti Tank Mines 1A ND)  for  exudation  of  TNT,  held  at  various  locations  will  be undertaken by Army Headquarters (AHQ).
- (ii) Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will replace or repair the defective ammunition within three months.

- (iii)  Army  Headquarters  in  consultation  with  all  stakeholders  will finalize the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs') for:
- (a) Disposal of defective ammunition in fixed time frame, and
- (b) Fixing  up  responsibility  for  defect  and  regularization  of loss.
- (iv) Department of Defence Production (DDP) in consultation with all stakeholders will prepare a SOP for hand holding of Production Agency by the Designer till production stabilizes.
- (v)  Army Headquarters will review the security (including surveillance)  and  fire  safety  arrangements  at  all  ammunition depots.

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