OSCAR requests Telangana Govt to relocate firing/shooting range, arms dump from Secunderabad Cantonment peripheral areas

After Pulgaon ( 100 kms from Nagpur-Maharashtra) army ammunition dump accident, the state govt in Telangana must have immediate discussions with the local police and the MOD for reworking the total processes of such arms dump in densely populated areas along with the firing or shooting range known as Lake Lines Range is situated in the midst of residential areas of Balaji Nagar, Ex Servicemen Colony, Prakruti Vihar, Kowkur, Yapral , GK Enclave on the east of the Cantt and Alwal, Risala Bazar and Bolarum on the west of the Cantt etc.

if the LMA sealed cover to the AP High Court is taken into consideration while closing 12 roads in Lakdawala gate area and golf course and RSI area, the citizens must be alarmed with the news. Any eventualities such as Pulgoan, it is all likely that the collateral damage will very high in these areas due to the proximity of such dumps and ranges being very near to the populous areas. It is state government responsibility to protect the citizens from such accidents and/or sabotages.

Since the 1990s, there have been an increasing number of catastrophic explosions at arms storage facilities around the world, including in India. The frequency of such incidents has increased as urban populations have expanded outward from city centers to the vicinity of what were often previously used to be in isolated depots. AOC Center in Secunderabad is such an example, where it is completely surrounded by residential areas now. According to Small Arms Survey, there were 275 accidental explosions at munitions depots between January 1998 and July 2011, causing hundreds of fatalities, thousands of injuries, and tens of thousands of people to be displaced. As munitions deteriorate further, new tragedies will follow unless this problem is more widely acknowledged and addressed immediately.

These “dangerous depots” have the potential to create even more casualties on an annual basis than landmines and explosive remnants of war. Looking at the stats, it is not out of place to say that the deaths due to such accidents are more than the war time. It is a pity that the MoD is working on disaster management which includes provision of alternate site for AOC if its depots damaged but has given to no consideration to human lives living in the adjoining areas of AOC- Secunderabad become victim of such damages often than not.

An interesting case study must be quoted herein. Punjab Sudhar Sabha (PSS) has requested the Union government to shift Vallah ammunition depot from its present location as it is surrounded by many residential localities and commercial area. The PSS General Secretary, Pawandeep Sharma, said in the backdrop of audacious terror attack at Air Force base in Pathankot it was necessary to take precautionary measures to protect the civilians more in the changed circumstances. He added that civil settlements around the Air Force base at Pathankot made it vulnerable with such audacious terror strikes. Similarly, ammunition depot at Vallah and Secunderabad cantonment must be away from civil settlements whether it is residential or commercial. Looking at the arms dump, which shrouded with secrecy in case of Secunderabad Cantonment with sealed cover to the court as point of reference, the state Govt of Telangana must step in to the issue with seriousness and must take up with MOD to prevent any further damage. The state govt must ask MOD/LMA to guarantee the safety and security of the civilians from such accident and by simply closing the 20 plus roads around the cantonments, it is not likely that no such accident or terror attacks will happen. The most secured Pathankot Air force station can face the terror attack, which is a forward base, why not SCB areas?

It is high time that our state government view this serious issue at the highest level and issue notice to MoD to relocate the AOC center elsewhere in an isolated area, far away from any residential areas. In the given circumstances, we don't need another army dump accident case here in Secunderabad as it has happen in several places in country with very poor safety record of the army maintained depots. Since the logistics function of the Army Ordnance Corps involves the mechanics of provisioning and procuring of all stores required to raise and maintain an efficient and effective fighting Army. The Inventory range covers every conceivable requirement of the soldier from clothing to weapons, from a needle to a tank and also all kind of munitions. AOC branch is also responsible for Ammunition Management for the complete range of Munitions from a pistol bullet to a Bofors Shell and all Missiles.

Despite changes in military tactics and technology, proficiency in the handling of weapons remains a cornerstone in the training of the modern combat soldier in every country. Any kind of little slip up, it may lead to such massive damage to the civilians.

Yet another issue must be considered is that of pollution of various metals in firing ranges. Modern military forces are trained on one or more small arms, including handguns, shotguns, rifles, and machine guns. Many of the projectiles used in military small arms contain lead. Exposure to lead in weapons training on firing ranges therefore is an important health concern.

As many studies says that the lead as metal pollution is a ubiquitous in the environment, and its adverse effects on human health are well documented. The nervous system is an important target of lead toxicity, which causes adverse cognitive, mood, and psychiatric effects in the central nervous system of adults and causes various peripheral nervous system effects and also has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Lead exposure also causes anemia, nephro-toxicity, a variety of adverse reproductive and developmental effects, small increases in blood pressure and an increased risk of hypertension particularly in middle-aged and older people, and various effects in other organ systems, including joint pain and gastrointestinal pain.

In the interest of civilian living in the above residential areas LMA must relocate the range elsewhere, far away from any residential area. State government also investigate the effects of leads on public including soldiers, as they are also are exposed and serve notice to stop immediately the use of Lake Lines Range.