Andhra Pradesh is biggest producer of explosives

Andhra Pradesh is the biggest manufacturer of explosives like slurry and detonators in the country. Nalgonda, about 70 km from here, is the hub of the activity.
Lack of supervision by police on the sale and use of explosives and detonators has resulted in serious lapses. Many times, explosives and detonators have fallen into the hands of Maoists, terrorists and petty criminals from the underworld. This has come to light during raids and seizures.
This newspaper has previously reported that detonators and explosives can be bought off the market, just like any commodity. There is no accountability for the explosives and detonators at the user level. The licensee merely says that he has used the explosives for the intended purpose, for example blasting rocks to clear construction sites.
According to statistics available with Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (Peso), out of 57 factories manufacturing explosives, nine are based in Nalgonda. In Andhra Pradesh, there are 66 licences for different premises. Nalgonda alone as 25 licenses with nine factories.
There are 283 sale licences (dealers) in the State. Nalgonda stands first, followed nationwide by Nagpur.
"We are empowered to oversee the operation of the Explosives Act which oversees the sale, possession and in particular to prevent accidents," said a Peso official. "Explosives and bombs are different. If explosives are improvised to make bombs it falls under the purview of the police," the official said.