Osmangunj shop wasn't inspected for years

HYDERABAD: Explosives department officers here did not inspect the premises of Shanti Fireworks in Osmangunj for years. And yet, the licence of this cracker shop, where a fire killed 12 people on Wednesday, was renewed perfunctorily year after year.
The cracker shop was issued a licence for the first time in 1971 in the name of B Ambaji Rao, the father of owner Manik Rao.The licence, as per rules, is to be renewed every two years.
Since its inception, Shanti Fireworks’ licence was renewed without a hitch every year. But none of the department officials visited the shop premises to check whether its licencee conformed to the Explosives Act.
In 1988, Ambaji Rao had his licence cancelled and got a fresh one issued in his son’s name. Till 1997, the cracker shop did business from a ground-floor shop. Later, three floors were constructed on top of the cracker shop.
Although the Explosives Act says that the department should be notified of every change made on the premises of a licensee, the cracker shop was issued fresh licences without taking into account this change on its premises. Deputy chief controller of explosives S Bhattacharya conceded that officials of his department did not visit or inspect this cracker shop. The reason, he said was simple — shortage of manpower.
The office headed by Bhattacharya has four officers. This team is supposed to inspect 2,160 petrol pumps, 39 explosive manufacturing units, 358 explosives transporters and many other licencees. “How does the government expect four officers to give spot verification reports on each cracker shop in the state,� he asked.
“The police chief was issued letters notifying that so and so person’s licence is being renewed. He is expected to enquire about the applicant,’’ Bhattacharya said.
But city police chief M V Krishna Rao disagreed. “The principal licensing authority, the explosives department, is responsible for granting licences. We only sent letters informing about renewals.�