CHENNAI: Acid continues to be freely available over the counter in the city despite the Supreme Court order to control its sale after three girls were attacked last year. People can still walk up to any chemist or hardware store and buy a 750 ml bottle for as little as 30.
In an acid attack last week, a 32-year-old woman in Madhavaram lost her eyesight after her sister-in-law threw cleaning acid in her face following a dispute over sharing of ancestral property on Monday.
The Centre has issued strict directives to the states asking them to curb the sale of corrosive acids over the counter. It had also asked states to ensure that acid is not sold to minors.
Hospitals, educational institutions, industries and laboratories which deal with acid too are to maintain records of the quantity of acid bought, the remaining stock and details of the amount used.
However, Tamil Nadu does not seem to have implemented any of these measures. A hardware store dealer in Adyar says even if they do maintain names of the buyers it is impossible to guess what it is being bought for. "Yesterday a maid came to us asking for an acid that cleans stains well. She claimed she was sent by her employer. So we asked no questions," said Sivaraj, an employee at the store.
"But when we see new faces we do ask them for their names and what the acid is for, with the excuse that we might recommend the correct acid," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Acid-continues-to-be-sold-over-the-counter/articleshow/30539486.cms
In an acid attack last week, a 32-year-old woman in Madhavaram lost her eyesight after her sister-in-law threw cleaning acid in her face following a dispute over sharing of ancestral property on Monday.
The Centre has issued strict directives to the states asking them to curb the sale of corrosive acids over the counter. It had also asked states to ensure that acid is not sold to minors.
The instruction included ensuring that the buyer shows a government-issued identity card showing he is over 18 years of age and every seller having records of every buyer of acid, failing which they can be fined up to 50,000.
Hospitals, educational institutions, industries and laboratories which deal with acid too are to maintain records of the quantity of acid bought, the remaining stock and details of the amount used.
However, Tamil Nadu does not seem to have implemented any of these measures. A hardware store dealer in Adyar says even if they do maintain names of the buyers it is impossible to guess what it is being bought for. "Yesterday a maid came to us asking for an acid that cleans stains well. She claimed she was sent by her employer. So we asked no questions," said Sivaraj, an employee at the store.
"But when we see new faces we do ask them for their names and what the acid is for, with the excuse that we might recommend the correct acid," he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Acid-continues-to-be-sold-over-the-counter/articleshow/30539486.cms
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