Says probe reveals second magazine operated sans permission; fine to be imposed on firm
The ill-fated gunpowder storage unit at Naqueri.
MARGAO
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that Hughes Precision Manufacturing Ltd will not be allowed to operate the propellant magazine at Naqueri-Betul unless the company complies with the mandatory provisions.
While saying the company will have to pay a fine in view of the fire incident, the Chief Minister, however, did not shed light on the demand made by the villagers of Naqueri-Betul and Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa to shut down and shift the propellant magazine to some other place.
“I want to make clear that official investigations are underway in respect of the fire that engulfed the magazine storing propellant at Naqueri-Betul. Our investigations have revealed that the company had no permission for the second magazine. The company will have to pay a fine,” he said, while speaking to the media on the side lines of the function held to inaugurate the multi-purpose cyclone shelter centre at Aquem-Margao on Saturday.
While the Chief Minister did not respond to the demand made by the villagers to shut down and shift the magazine from Naqueri, he, however, said, “unless the company takes 100 per cent precautionary measures, they will not be allowed to operate the unit again.”
Agitated villagers of Naqueri-Betul led by Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa and Naqueri-Betul Panchayat members had staged a silent protest outside the office of South Goa district Collector on Friday, demanding closure of the magazine in view of the blatant violations by the company.
The agitated villagers have wondered why the investigations into the March 20 fire and explosion in Magazine 1 have not been taken to its logical conclusion till date. They contended that the company had stored 11 tonnes propellant in magazine No. 2 when it had no permission to set up the unit.
