Strict measures to allow only license holders to use explosives for quarrying: Minister Nirani
Bengaluru: Karnataka Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh R Nirani on Tuesday said strict measures will be put in place, so that only license holder will be allowed to use explosives for quarrying or mining, here on.
His statement comes in the backdrop of a quarry blast at Chikkaballapur district this morning, in which six people died. He stressed on the importance of training skilled workers and creation of a mining school to avoid such tragedies.
"To see to that such incidents don't not happen, mining should happen in a scientific way... aimed at providing training to license holders in mining and use of explosives for mining, measures are being taken by the government to start a school of mining," Nirani said.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he said in the coming days those involved in mining will be trained, and strict measures will taken to ensure that only license holders are allowed to use explosives.
"Measures are being taken to maintain strict vigil at check posts regarding transportation of large quantities of explosives from other places and whether they are with license.
Also the quantity of explosives that can be transported for mining is being fixed," he said, adding in this case as per preliminary information the explosives were already brought in.
Six people were killed when the gelatin sticks they were trying to dispose of exploded accidentally at a stone quarry site at a village in Chikkaballapura district early on Tuesday.
The incident comes close on the heels of a similar blast at a quarry site in Shivamogga on January 22, which left six dead. Expressing condolences to the families of victims, Nirani assured all assistance to the kin of the deceased and the injured.
Assuring action against the culprits, he said the government will conduct a thorough probe and take action against those responsible for the blast.
Further stating that this incident has happened despite government taking strict measures after the Shivamogga incident, the Minister said, "we had increased vigil at the check post after what happened there (in Shivamogga), it looks like explosives were brought before that incident."
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Austrian police detain suspect in case of rat poison found in baby food jars on supermarket shelves
Vienna (AP): Police in eastern Austria say a 39-year-old suspect has been arrested after rat poison turned up in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe.
HiPP, which recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the case came to light last month, said in a statement Saturday it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest, and would provide further updates as verified details come in.
The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, under the direction of prosecutors, said a probe was launched after poison turned up in a baby food jar purchased at a supermarket in the city of Eisenstadt on April 18.
It said the suspect was being questioned, and that no further details would be immediately provided. The Burgenland public prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into suspected “intentional endangerment of the public.”
The Austrian Press Agency reported that an expert report on the toxicity of the poison was pending. A total of five tampered baby food jars were seized before they could be consumed, APA reported.
Authorities said previously they believe the tampering occurred in 190-gram (6.7-ounce) jars of baby food made with carrots and potatoes for 5-month-olds that were sold from SPAR supermarkets in Austria.
HiPP responded by recalling all of its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets — which include SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt stores — in Austria as a precaution. Vendors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also removed all of the brand's baby jars from sale.
The company said the recall was not due to any product or quality defect on its part, and said the jars left its facility in “perfect condition.”
Police said a customer at the time of the discovery had reported that a jar appeared to have been tampered with, but no one had consumed the baby food.
