Police moot joint inspection of cracker manufacturing units in Puducherry

Move to ascertain whether the units are adhering to all rules and regulations

Post-Deepavali celebrations, the Puducherry Police department has proposed periodic inspection of cracker manufacturing units along with officials of Revenue Department.

The department wanted the joint inspection to be done by including experts to ascertain if the cracker manufacturing units are adhering to the rules prescribed by the licencing authorities including, the nature and quantum of chemicals used. There are 14 licensed cracker manufacturing units in Puducherry, said a senior official of the Revenue department.

“We have asked for a periodic joint inspection of the cracker manufacturing units to ascertain whether the firms are following the rules and regulations. Though the incident in which two persons got killed in an explosion on Deepavali day at Kottakuppam has no direct link to the Union Territory, we are concerned, as a few criminal elements have used countrymade bombs in the recent past. So, we want to have a strict monitoring of the cracker manufacturing units and hence the sought the assistance of the Revenue department,” Senior Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) R. Lokeshwaran told The Hindu.