– Team 1: chief Controller of Explosives from PESO.
– Team 2: district Collector or Revenue Officer of Virudhunagar.
– Several units operate without proper licenses.
– Unauthorized expansions, misuse of approved sheds, and violation of designated safety zones reported.
– Unacquainted ownership with manufacturing rules; lack of certified foremen cited as key issues for oversight lapses.
– Bench suggested mandatory insurance coverage for workers in firecracker production factories to address accident compensation more effectively.
The tribunal’s directive reflects growing concern over unchecked operations in the firecracker industry-a sector integral to Tamil Nadu’s economy but one fraught with consistent safety risks and gaps in regulation enforcement. Recurring violations highlighted by the bench point toward systemic issues such as unlicensed expansions and inadequate familiarity with critical operational standards among factory owners.
The initiative to deploy two independent inspection teams headed by high-ranking officials signals an intensified approach towards accountability-aiming not only at establishing facts but also providing actionable data ahead of regulatory interventions. The suggestion for mandatory worker insurance adds a layer of social security that could mitigate the financial fallout from accidents-a necessary move considering recurring incidents.
While coordination between multiple bodies like PESO and TNPCB is vital, creating a nodal overseeing agency may strengthen long-term governance frameworks across such high-risk industries in India overall.
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