Thursday, 10 September 2015

9th SEPTEMBER 1898 FIRST EXPLOSIVE DEPARTMENT IN NAGPUR ESTABLISHED

INTODURCTION The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), formerly known as Department of Explosives, since its inception on 9/9/1898, has been serving the nation as a nodal agency for regulating safety of hazardous substances such as explosives, compressed gases and petroleum. The organisation has earned rare distinction as an institution of excellence in matters related to safety in manufacturing/refining, storage, transportation, handling and use of hazardous substances for over a century. Apart from the normal functions of enforcement of statutory safety regulations to safeguard public safety, life, property and environment, the organisation has rendered meritorious voluntary services in examination and disposal of explosives, improvised explosives devices till late eighties of the last century, some of which were of national importance encountered during freedom struggle of the country, terrorist activities in different regions in the country. Till early nineties of the last century, the officers of the organisation were carrying out anti-sabotage checks and duties related to VVIP security, Airport Security etc. The organisation has creditably rendered training to Police, Security and Intelligence personnel in detection, examination and disposal of explosives/explosive devices in a safe manner, as there was no other agency in the country to impart such trainings. The activities of the organisation, over the years has increased exponentially and expanded in diverse fields. Today the organisation deals with wide range of subjects related to explosives, petroleum, compressed gases, pressure vessels, gas cylinders, cross-country pipelines, LNG, CNG, Auto LPG etc. The organisation, although small in size, compared to many other Government organizations with an existing strength of only 94 officers out of sanctioned strength of 137 officers, is the only organisation of its kind directly overseeing the safety requirements for over 2.51 lakhs hazardous units and offering expert technical and safety guidance to numerous industries and user companies, including Ministries of Defence, Railways, Shipping, Surface Transport, Environment & Forests, Civil Aviation and establishments of Atomic Energy and Space Research. Initially, the activities of the organisation were confined to enforcement of Explosives Act (4 of 1884) involving inspection of explosives storage magazines and investigation of accidents related to storage and transportation of explosives. Subsequently, enforcement of - 3 - Petroleum Act (8 of 1899) & Petroleum Rules which came in force on 17.02.1899 and Carbide of Calcium Rules, 1987 framed under the said Act were also entrusted to the organisation. However, owing to different sets of provincial regulations prevailing in different provinces at that time, an impasse was created in effective administration of the Petroleum Act and Rules. With a view to thrash out the impasse and bring uniformity in the system, the Chief Inspector of Explosives started an endeavour to frame a set of rules for all states allowing variations essential for local conditions. Finally, the Petroleum Act, 1934 was promulgated in supersession of all earlier Regulations and the Petroleum Rules, 1937 came into force with effect from 30.03.1937 replacing the earlier Central and Provincial Rules. The consolidated Carbide of Calcium Rules came into force with effect from 18.02.1987. After independence, though hazardous but useful materials like explosives, petroleum etc. found place in the Union List of the Constitution of India. Subsequently, the Petroleum Rules, 1937 were overhauled comprehensively and replaced by Petroleum Rules, 1976. The Petroleum Rules, 1976 were further reviewed and overhauled in view of changed scenario and also report of the Rajya Sabha Committee for Sub-ordinate Legislation and new rules Petroleum Rules, 2002 were brought into force with effect from 13/03/2002. Later on two amendmenst have been done on 02/02/2007 and 15/06/2011. During the course of time, similarly there were several revisions and amendments in the Explosives Act and Rules. The earlier Explosives Rules, 1918 were replaced by Explosives Rules, 1940, which were again overhauled and replaced by the Explosives Rules, 1983, which have been again thoroughly reviewed and present Explosives Rules, 2008 have been brought in force since 29/12/2008. In order to control the misuse of Ammonium Nitrate and regulate its production & use in explosives manufacturing industries and in mining industry the Ammonium Nitrate Rules were framed under the Explosives Act, 1884 and came into force on 11/07/2012. Inflammable Substance Act, 1952 came into force from 1952. The Gas Cylinder Rules which were originally framed in the year 1940 were replaced by new comprehensive Gas Cylinder Rules, 1981. These rules were again reviewed due to liberalized policy of Govenrment of India and were simplified and replaced by new Gas Cylinder Rules, 2004 with effect from 21/08/2004. - 4 - The Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 1981  

Origin and Development  of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation(PESO)
(Formerly Department of Explosives)
Government of India
Inception
        The Indian Explosives Act was promulgated and came into force on 26.02.1884.After series of explosions in the magazines storing blasting gelatines, which rocked and ravaged many parts of the area, more serious being at Nari Gorge and Kach in 1888 and Antop Hill, Bombay, India. Then  the Government decided to appoint the Superintendent of Government Gun powder factory at Ishapur (West Bengal) and Kirkee as Chief Inspector of Explosives for their respective areas on recommendation of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Explosives, U.K. When the aforementioned arrangement was found not satisfactory, the Government finally decided to appoint the first “CHIEF INSPECTOR OF EXPLOSIVES” as an independent authority and Maj. C. A. Muspratt Williams took over charge as the Chief Inspector of Explosives on 9th September 1898. Initially the Chief Inspector of Explosives was being assisted by the Superintendent and the Asstt. Superintendents of the Ordinance Factories at Ishapur and Kirkee.
        After that, Honorary Capt. J.Barlett of Indian Ordinance Department was appointed as Inspector of Explosives to assist the Chief Inspector of Explosives. All works relating to explosives was initially entrusted to those two officers comprising the Department of Explosives. Subsequently there were expansions in the number of offices and officers and also in the activities.
        The first Indian Chief Controller of Explosives was Shri A. K. Sen in the year 1945
        The first Annual Report of the Department of Explosives was published in the year 1900. You can have a look to that first Annual Report .
Changes in Designation and Administrative Ministry
        The designation of the Head of the Department was first changed to ‘Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Explosives in India’ in 1902-03. During post- independence period, the prefix “Her Majesty’s” was deleted. The suffix “In India” was subsequently deleted in 1973, with change in the designation as “Chief Controller of Explosives” with corresponding changes in the subordinate cadres and since then, this designation of “Chief Controller of Explosives and Controller of Explosives” were incorporated in the main frame of the Acts & Rules after necessary amendment in the Explosives and Petroleum Acts & the Rules framed thereunder.
 Administrative Ministry
        The Department of Explosives remained under the control of Home Dept. prior to 1905 and subsequently shifted to Dept. of Commerce and Industry in 1905, Dept of Industries during 1921,Dept. of Industry and labour during 1923,Dept. of Labour during 1937,Ministry of Work, Mines and Power during 1950,Ministry of Works, Production and Supply during 1951.Ministry of Work, Housing and Supply during 1952,Ministry of Industrial Development, Internal trade and Company Affairs during 1969, and thereafter the  this Ministry was later reorganized several times  with attachment/ detachment of  departments  like internal trade, Company Affairs, Civil supplies, Science  and Technology etc. At present, the Department of   Explosives remained under  the Department of Industrial Development,  Ministry of Industry up to the year 1999-2000. During the year 2000-2001, the Department of Industrial Development was merged with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and now the Department of Explosives is under the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. 
Chronology of the establishment set up
  • First Branch Office of the Department was opened in Pune in 1925 and then Chief started discharging his duties with the help of one Inspector each at Calcutta and Pune.
  • By 1938, the Department had further extended to four Circle Offices at Lahore, Chennai, Calcutta and Mumbai, with Head Office at Calcutta.  Subsequently a Central Circle Office was opened at Nagpur, which was later shifted to Gwalior.
  • The Head office was also shifted time to time from Shimla to Calcutta, Calcutta to New Delhi and  after independence from New Delhi to Nagpur. The present Head office is at Nagpur.
  • During partition of India and Pakistan, the office at Lahore was shifted to Agra. 
  • One sub-circle office at Gomia was started in 1958, due to the start of the first high explosives manufacturing factory(ICI Ltd) in the country.
  • Sub-circle offices at Asansol (West Bengal) and Sivakasi (Tamil Nadu) came into existence by that time.
  • A new Sub-Circle office at Hyderabad was opened on 02.12.1968 and a Sub-Circle office Guwahati for the North-Eastern States was started in 1973.
  • A Sub-Circle office at Hazaribagh and Pay & Accounts Office at Nagpur were opened in 1976.
  • In 1979-80, a Sub-Circle office at Bhandara was opened due to Commissioning of Commercial High Explosives plant of the Ordinance Factory Bhandara, Maharashtra.
  • The first re-organisation of the department was completed in the two years 1980-81 and 1981-82 by opening of Sub-Circle offices at Rourkela, Manglore, Ernakulam, Baroda, Chandigarh, Bhopal and Jaipur.  The Central Circle office at Gwalior was abolished.
  • The major re-organisation of the Department was sanctioned in 1995 by increasing the strength of Group-A Technical Officers from 67 to 151. New Circle office viz. North Circle office at Faridabad (near New Delhi) and Sub-Circle office at Allahabad and the Central Testing  Station at Gondkhairi, Nagpur  for better functioning of the Department.
  • At present the Department, apart from the Head Office (and Central Testing Station) at Nagpur, has 5 Circle offices and 18 Sub-Circle/Factory attached offices.
Re-Orientation of Activities
        The Activities of the Department of Explosives were initially confined mostly to inspection of few magazines existing at that time.  The following duties were assigned to the then Chief Inspector of Explosives:-
  • To carry out regular systematic inspection of all important explosives magazines.
  • To investigate and report  the cause of accidents involving explosives.
  • To give expert advice in all matters connected with the administration of Explosives Act, 1884 and Rules framed thereunder.
  • At that time, the Explosives Act,1884 was only in force.
  • The Petroleum Act (VIII of 1899) came into force on 17.02.1899 and the Carbide of Calcium Rules was brought under this Act by a Notification dated 11.08.1899.
  • During the year 1904-05, the administration of Indian Petroleum Act and the Rules framed thereunder came within the authority of jurisdiction of the Chief Inspector of Explosives.
  • Owing to different sets of provincial Rules followed by different provinces, an impasse was created in effective administration of the Indian Petroleum Act.
  • With a view to iron out such impasses and bring uniformity in the system, the Chief Inspector of Explosives started an endeavour to contemplate and frame set of rules for all states allowing variations essential for local conditions.  Finally, the Petroleum Act, 1934 was promulgated in super session of all earlier Acts and the Petroleum Rules, 1937 came into force with effect from 30.03.1937 replacing the earlier provincial Rules.  The consolidated Carbide of Calcium Rules came into force with effect from 18.03.1937.
  • Initially the Explosives Rules, 1918 was in force.
  • Due to increased insurgencies for independent India, another Act, called Explosives Substance Act, 1906 was promulgated. The objective of the Explosives Act, 1884 and the Explosives Substance Act, 1906 were different. The objective of the Explosives Act, 1884 was to regularize the hazardous licensed premises dealing with commercial explosives for public safety but the objective of the Explosives Substance Act, 1906 was to penalize. The Chief Controller of Explosives continued to administer the Explosives Act, 1884, and the Rules framed thereunder and the culture of the Department of Explosives remained same, that is to regularize the premises for the interest of public.
  • Subsequently in 1940, the Explosives Rules, 1940 came into force repealing the earlier Rules. After that due to increase in production /number of explosives/manufacturing units ( list enclosed ),Explosives Rules,1983 were promulgated.
  • In the same year, the Gas Cylinder Rules, 1940 with about 20 provisions were framed under the Explosives Act, 1884 and came into force covering only few gases. For LPG, there was a separate Notification. There were no licensing for filling or storage of compressed gases but approval for storage of compressed gas cylinders was mandatory.
  • The major thrust of work load of the officers of the Department of Explosives during early pre independence era up to about 36 years after independence, was dealing, handling, examination, rendering harmless of home-made bombs and to submit report and tender expert opinion and evidence on such explosives exhibits seized by police to the court of law.
  •  Before independence there was only one small petroleum Refinery at Digboi (Assam) commissioned in 1901(oldest in the Indian sub-continent) expanded in 1902 and entirely rebuilt in 1923 and provided technical and skilled man power for post independent refineries in Guwahati, Barauni, Gujarat, Haldia, Mathura etc. At present there are 17 POL Refineries in India ( list enclosed ) with increase in refining capacity from earliest 0.5 M.T. to about 100 million tons of crude petroleum. Due to rapid industrialization in the country after independence, the Petroleum Rules were overhauled and amended comprehensively in the years 1975-76 and new Rules as Petroleum Rules, 1976 were brought into force.
  • During the course of time there were several amendments in the Explosive Act, the Petroleum Act and the Rules.
  • The Inflammable substance Act came into force during 1952. 
  • Prior to 1981, there was no legislation for storage and transport of compressed gases in bulk. The new sets of Rules known as Static and Mobile pressure vessels {Unfired} Rules, 1981 was framed.
  • The Gas Cylinder Rules, 1940,were replaced Comprehensively by the Gas Cylinders Rules, 1981, and came into force during 1981. The provisions for CNG dispensing station were made to come within the purview of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 1981.
  • Of late, the Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 1981, were amended vide G.S.R. 141(E)dated 14.02.2000 incorporating provisions for installation of Auto L.P.G. Dispensing station for using LPG as Automotive Fuel.
  • MISHC Rules…
  • With the present global industrial liberalization, all the Rules administered by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation are being reviewed with change in outlook and the matter is under active consideration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
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 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THEChief Inspector of Explosives, India
 Simla, the 21st April 1900.
        In my capacity as Chief Inspector of Explosives, I have the honour  to submit herewith a report of the work of my Department for the year ending 31stMarch 1900. As an introductory to the first Report, I think it will not be out of place to detail shortly the circumstances leading up to the establishment of the appointment of a Chief Inspector of Explosives with the Government of India.
        Explosives in India did not attract much attention till after the introduction of nitro-compounds into the country, to one of which class, viz., blasting gelatine, the following explosions have been attributed, viz:-
  1. Explosion of two magazines at Adenin 1898.
  2. Explosion of two magazines at Nari Gorge and Kach on the Sind-Peshin Railway in 1888.
  3. Explosion of a magazine at Shelabagh on the Sind-Peshin Railway in 1890.
  4. Explosion of a magazine at AntopHill,Bombay in 1891.
  5. Explosion of a magazine at Syriam, Rangoon,in 1896. 
        A Committee in India drew up a report on the AntopHill Explosion, which was forwarded to the late Sir Vivian Majendie, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Explosives, for opinion, and I believe I am right in stating that his remarks concerning the necessity of inspection and testing of nitro-compounds decided the government of India to appoint in 1894 the Superintendents of the Gunpowder factories at Ishapur and Kirkee, in addition to their other duties, Chief Inspectors of Explosives under the Indian Explosives Act (IV of 1884) for the Lower Provinces of Bengal and Bombay, respectively, and the Assistant Superintendents of these Factories were at the same time made Inspectors of Explosives under them. Subsequently in 1896 the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the Kirkee Factory were appointed respectively, Chief Inspector and Inspector of Explosives in Madras as well as in the Bombay Presidency. About the same time the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the Ishapur Factory were ordered to carry out the same duties as regards Assam, and the Ordnance Officer at Rangoon was appointed Inspector of Explosives in RangoonTown and the Hanthawaddy District. As, however, these arrangements were not found entirely satisfactory, a Chief Inspector of Explosives with the Government of India was appointed and took up his duties on the 5th September 1898. The duties laid down for him were “to carry on the regular systematic examination of all the importrant magazines, to investigate and report on the causes of explosions and to give expert advice in all matters connected with the administration of the Explosives Act and Rules framed thereunder.” 
        It was settled at the same time that the Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents of the two Factories and the Ordnance Officer, Rangoon, should still continue in their appointments as advisers to their respective Local Governments in the matter of explosives, but that they should in addition cooperate with the Chief Inspector of Explosives with the Government of India, render him any assistance he might require, and should furnish him with copies of reports of all inspections may be them or their Assistants, and they were permitted to refer to him direct at any time with regard to any technical questions on which they might desire his opinion or advice.
        In 1899, owing to the manufacture of black gunpowder practically ceasing in India, due to the introduction of cordite, it was decided to close the Kirkee Gunpowder Factory on the 1st April 1900. It was also ascertained that the Assistant Superintendent would, in all probability, be removed from Ishapure. These causes necessitated a complete alteration in the arrangements for carrying on the work of inspection of explosives, etc. Consequently the Government of India decided to appoint an Assistant to the Chief Inspector of Explosives with the Government of India and to put all the explosives work in the hands of these two officers, doing away with the Provincial Inspectors of Explosives.
        Honorary Captain J.Bartlett of the Indian Ordnance Department was appointed Inspector of Explosives from 1st January 1900 and joined his appointment on the 3rd January,1900. His duties only consist of Inspection work, and he submits his reports on inspections to the Chief Inspector of Explosives direct, who takes necessary action on them. Captain Bartlett accompanied me on one of my tours to gain the necessary experience for carrying out his inspections during the year 1900-1901.
        As regards general work, this Report treats of the proceedings of this Department from the date of its establishment on 5thSeptember 1898 till the 31st March 1900; but as regards inspection work, it only deals with the period from 1st April 1899 to 31st March 1900. The reason for this apparent discrepancy is due to the fact that I was appointed Chief Inspector of Explosives towards the end of the year, and in the cold weather, immediately succeeding my appointment, I carried out a short inspection tour, of which I gave a brief summary in my letter no. 51-C.I.E., dated 22nd April 1899, touching only on this tour and on several points to which I had been directed to give my attention while on tour, and to give my opinion afterwards on the same.
        During the year 1899, 103 licenses were granted in India under Rule 17 of the Rules to regulate the manufacture, possession and sale of explosives. Owing to the fact that in some cases a number of license-holders store their explosives in the same magazine the number of the magazines is considerably less than the number of licenses issued, and amounts to 77 as compared with 73 in 1898. In addition there are 9 large firework godowns. These godowns are all in Bombay Town, and according to rule should be magazines. The Bombay Government have given the owners of these godowns a year to provide themselves with magazines in a more suitable locality. In addition to the licenses mentioned above, there is one granted under Rule 12 for a Roburite Factory at Karachi, but the building of this factory has not been completed yet. A statement showing the location of magazines and also the number of licenses granted in each Presidency or Province is given in Appendices A and B.
        During the year 6 magazines were inspected 3 times, 23 twice and 43 once. From the above it will be seen that altogether 107 inspections were made and 72 out of the 77 magazines visited. Of the 5 not visited, 3 were abandoned during the year, and the other 2 were small magazines in very out of the way places, and I was unable to get them inspected last year, but I have issued orders for their inspection early this year. Of those inspections, I carried out 52 myself, which included all the more important magazine in the country, and I also visited some of the firework godowns. My Assistant the Inspection of Explosives, made 7 inspections and the remaining 48 inspections were carried out by the Provincial Inspectors of Explosives. Owing to the absence of Assistant Superintendents from the Gunpowder Factories for a considerable part of the year, less inspection was carried out by the Provincial Inspectors than would otherwise have been done, as they could not leave their respective factories for any length of time.
        After each inspection a report on the same was sent to the District Magistrate concerned, pointing out all irregularities that required to be corrected and making any necessary suggestions.
        In June 1899 the Government of India gave orders that stipendiary Magistrates or Police Officers not below the rank of Inspectors were to carry out certain periodical inspections of minor magazines, that is, of magazines containing less than 4,000 lbs, gunpowder or the equivalent, estimating 1 lb, of nitro-compounds as equal to 2 lbs. Gunpowder – vide Home Department letters Nos. 1353-55 (Public), dated 26th June 1899, and prescribed a special form of Inspection Report, which will be found in Appendix C. Up till the 31st March I received reports of 17 of these non-expert inspections of ;which 14 were carried out by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Raneeganj, one by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Govbindpur,one by the Deputy Magistrate, Ranchi, and one by the Assistant Magistrate of Vizianagram.
        I am glad to be able to state that, since the system of inspections has been started, the magazines have improved very considerably, and a large number of them are now in very good order. Magazine holders have generally shown themselves very willing to accept and carry out recommendations, which in many cases, have entailed a good deal of expense, and I have found my work made much pleasanter in consequence.
        The physical condition of all the explosives in ;magazines, during the past year was found to be good, and none of the samples taken at inspections ;have failed to pass the necessary tests ;which are carried out by the Chemical Examiners to the Governments of Madras, Bengal, and Burma, the Chemical Analyser to the Government of Bombay and the Testing Officer at Karachi. The stock is; now all of comparatively recent date. The only old stock of blasting gelatine, about 10 years old and about 1,000 lbs. in quantity was destroyed by me in February 1899, as I considered it to be in a dangerous condition; this was referred to in my letter No. 51-C.I.E., dated 22nd April 1899.
        No accidents have been reported to me, but I have heard unofficially of accidents occurring in the handling of dynamite and fireworks. I should be glad if reports of all accidents in India in the storage, handling and transport of explosives and inflammable oils or substances, with full details as regards loss of life and cause of accident, etc., could be furnished to me for compilation in my Annual Report, as is done in the Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Inspector of Explosives, England.
        No prosecutions under the Explosives Act have been reported to me. It would be as well that any that occur should be compiled in my Annual Report for information and I would therefore ask that I may be always informed of any prosecutions and their results.
        I should be glad also if it could be arranged for me to obtain particulars of all imports of each kind of explosives into this country as these statistics certainly should be given in my Report, as is done in England. The following figures of the import of dynamite and all other explosives (excluding gunpowder) were obtained from the Director General of Statistics.:-
1894-95 365 tons
1895-96321  tons
1896-97
361  tons
1897-98578  tons
1898-99572  tons
To give some idea of the work with which this Department has been concerned, some of the more important items are given below:-
  1. A large number of the rules both for the manufacture, possession and sale of explosives and also for the transport and importation of explosives have been amended, and several fresh rules introduced. Additions and amendments have also been made to a number of the rules to regulate the transport and importation of explosives at the important ports in India. Further amendments to these latter rules are still under consideration.
  2. Special powers as regards search, seizure and destruction of explosives have been obtained for Inspectors of Explosives – vide Government of India, Home Department, Notification Nos. 660 and 888 (Public), dated 23rd March 1899 and 27th March 1900, Appendices D and E.
  3. The question of raising the heat test for dynamite and the time test for blasting gelatine has been under consideration, and finally settled in the negative.
  4. The introduction of a table of distances to be kept clear round explosives magazines in India has been under discussion, and is about to be introduced. This table is given in Appendix F.
  5. Specific rules for the packing of detonators have been issued – vide Government of India, Home Department, Notification no. 2399(Public), dated 18th October 1899, Appendix G.
  6. A special rule has been introduced under which blasting gelatine and its kindred gelatinous nitro-compounds cannot be kept in any magazine in British. India after the expiry of 3 years from the date of its importation, unless specially sanctioned by an Inspector of Explosives for further periods of 8 months. This rule decided the question which had been discussed previously as to whether blasting gelatine should be allowed in the country at all. Another idea also of under-water storage of this explosive was dismissed as impracticable.
  7. The question as to the prohibition ;of certain ingredients in fireworks has been taken up, and is still under the consideration of the Government of India, as also are the general rules as regards fire works.
  8. The dangerous proximity of some brick kilns to two large dynamite magazines of Messrs. Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Co. at Bally, near Calcutta, was brought to notice. Messrs. Gillanders, Arbuthnot & Co. have consequently  been informed by the Bengal Government that they must remove their stock of dynamite elsewhere; but, in order to give them time to provide other magazines, they have been granted a continuing license for one year for a very much reduced quantity of dynamite, to be stored under special precautions.
        Acetylene gas was declared by the Government of India to be an explosive under certain conditions, and in that state its manufacture, possession and sale, transport or importation is forbidden – vide Government of India, Home Department, Notification No.1670(Public), dated 9th August 1898, Appendix H.
        Subsequently at this Department’s recommendation a further notification was issued, declaring that acetylene gas in admixture with oil gas under certain conditions shall not be deemed to be an explosive under the Explosives Act, vide Government of India, Home Department, Notification No.1747(Public), dated 11th August 1899, Appendix I.
        The Petroleum Act (VIII of 1899) received the assent of the Governor General in Council on the 17th February 1899, and this Department was frequently consulted with regard to it.
        Carbide of calcium was brought under the Petroleum Act (VIII of 1899), and general rules issued regarding it – vide Government of India, Home Department, Notification No.1118(Public), dated 11th August 1899, Appendix J. Local Governments are now drawing up suitable local restrictive rules, which will in course of time pass through this Department for opinion.
        The question of raising the flash test of kerosene was referred to this Department before the matter was settled in England, and it was recommended that no rise should be made.
        This Department was also consulted about the question of the carriage of kerosene by native passenger vessels. This matter is still under consideration.
        Rules were drawn up for the installation of a liquid fuel depot at Aden. Alterations have been introduced with regard to the packing of concentrated mineral acids for purposes of transit by railway.
        Requests have been received asking for relaxation in the packing of chlorate of potash, but could not be recommended by this Department.
        Rules to be observed in private magazines have been drawn up by this Department – vide Appendix K, and have been issued to each magazine-holder.
        Plans of magazine have been supplied to firms or individuals requiring them, and a standard plan is under preparation by this Department so that all future magazines will be of one pattern.
        Arrangements have been made by which all licenses, before being granted will pass through this Department for examination.
        This Department has been consulted frequently, demy-officially, by Government Departments and officials, and also by firms and private individuals, about explosives, inflammable oils and substances, and chemicals.
        In conclusion, I gladly take this opportunity of placing on record my indebtedness to the Provincial Chief Inspectors and Inspectors of Explosives for the able and willing assistance they have been given me during their association with me in the explosive work. In this connection I would especially mention the name of Captain D.M.Bahington, B.A., late Chief Inspector of Explosives, Bombay and Madras Presidencies.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Yours obedient servant,C.A.MUSPRATT- WILLIAMS, Major R.A.Chief Inspector of Explosives

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