ET gathers that following representations from Isro over the years, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has exempted the national space organisation from the “operation of all provisions of the explosives rules, 2008, for manufacturing, storage, use and transportation of Solid Propellant for Space Rockets falling under UN Class 1 (Explosives)”.
The exemption, given only to Isro, was notified by the Centre last week.
PESO, earlier known as the Department of Explosives, regulates safety of hazardous substances including explosives, compressed gases and petroleum in the country.
In effect, the latest exemption means that Isro will not need approvals and inspection from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisations (PESO) on solid propellant usage and manufacture.
“ISRO is a premier national space organisation. They have all the expertise to handle explosive material. Hence, it was felt that they need not be subject to PESO inspections and approvals multiple times. ISRO had put in a request and it was found rational to allow the exemption in view of the adequate safety mechanisms they have in place. They also had such an exemption prior to 2008. So, it was decided to restore the same,” an official told ET on condition of anonymity.
While Isro was exempted from PESO oversight through the early years of India’s space programme, the Explosive Rules 2008, did not make that exception for it. Officials say permissions on solid propellants were given and even fast-tracked by PESO on a case-to-case basis for Isro but the delays involved had become an issue of concern. There was also the argument that Isro was well-equipped to handle solid propellants and did not need PESO oversight and monitoring.
The Isro argument came on the back of decades of work on solid propellant-based rocket technology, considered essentially home-grown and heralded in 1963 with the launch of the first composite solid propellant ‘Mrinal’ from Thumba. Isro’s Sriharikota-based Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant is at the forefront of the same. The rulebook of 2008, however, was increasingly seen as a constraint.
Isro will be required to follow the Storage and Transportation of Explosives Committee guidelines for construction of buildings for manufacture, storage, transportation and use of explosives and carry out biennial safety audit of the solid propellant manufacturing facilities with the participation of a member from defence ministry organisation — the Center for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety.
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