Administration gears up to keep check on firecrackers units

Bathinda, September 21

After a fire incident was reported at an illegal firecracker godown in Sangrur lately, the district administration has finally geared up to avoid any such untoward incident in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra has issued instructions to officials to make a detailed report of firecrackers godowns and retailers in the district.

Lakra said officials had been instructed to keep a check on the firecrackers stores. Officials also held a meeting with firecracker unit owners today, he added.

He said firecracker godowns would be at least 20 km away from the residential areas.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sakshi Sahwney also met owners of the firecracker units.

Owners were told to follow the norms strictly and emphasis was laid on following that the storage space of firecrackers should be away from the manufacturing units.

Sakshi Sahwney said seven persons from firecrackers units attended the meeting.

She said there were four stores and four factories in the Bathinda sub-division.

The SDM said there were seven licence holders for firecracker units in Bathinda.

The police has also started taking measures regarding this.

SSP Naveen Singla has directed the SHOs to constitute special teams in their areas and start keeping a tab on the illegal factories and godowns.

While talking to Bathinda Tribune, SSP Naveen Singla said, “SP (H) Bhupinder Singh had been made the nodal officer for this and in the coming days, we will intensify checking on the illegal firecrackers godowns in the city.”

He added that security arrangements would be made for the upcoming festival season in the next few days. — TNS