Delhi Police Issued Notification to Curb Sale and Use of Ammonium Nitrate

Delhi Police issued a notification in the last week of May 2013 declaring a curb on the sale as well as use of ammonium nitrate. It is important to note that ammonium nitrate comes under the special category of substances under the Explosive Substances Act.

Delhi Police, in its notification, declared that the traders should apply for the licence by 31 May 2013 in case they want to sell or use the substance. This will be followed by crackdown in order to identify as well as punish the illegal sellers of ammonium nitrate.

Features of the Notification Issued by Delhi Police

• All the traders need to apply for licence latest by 31 May 2013 for legally selling Ammonium Nitrate.
• Clinics, schools, laboratories, colleges as well as hospitals will be allowed to keep only less than 5 kg of Ammonium Nitrate. However, the area SHO needs to be informed about this possession of the substance.
• In case of violation of this rule, maximum punishment would be life term.
• The buyer of Ammonium Nitrate will have to provide his/her identity as well as purpose of purchasing it. These details will be recorded and cross-checked.

The move was initiated by the additional commissioner of police (licensing) Madhup Tiwari in light of blasts which took place in Delhi high court as well as Bangalore BJP headquarters where traces of certain chemicals were found in explosives. In Hyderabad twin blasts in 2007, Ammonium Nitrate based Neogel 90 was used.