Explosives include gunpowder, nitoglycerin, nitroglycol, di-nitro-toluene, and picric acid.
As per the Explosive Bill 2024, the Central Government will designate the competent authority to grant, suspend or revoke licenses and perform certain other functions under the fresh Act.
Currently, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) under DPIIT is the authority responsible for issuing licenses for the production, possession, employ, sale, import and export of all explosives.
The fresh bill also proposes that the licensing authority should specify in the license the quantity of explosives that a licensee may produce, possess, sell, transport, import or export for a specified period of time, in accordance with the regulations.
If a licensee manufactures, imports or exports in violation of any law, the bill provides for three years’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs one lakh or both. Under the current Explosives Act, the punishment for violation is three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. Similarly, possession, employ, sale or transportation of any explosive material in violation of the provisions of the fresh Act will result in imprisonment of up to two years or a penalty of Rs 50,000 or both. As per the current law, the fine is 3,000 rupees.
