In a bid to prevent pilferage of explosives leading to sabotage, the State police has asked the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to make it compulsory for explosives manufacturers to print the batch number on explosive cartridges.
“Such a move will help the police trace the licensee from whom the explosives were illegally diverted,” Inspector General of Police (South Zone), Abhay Kumar Singh said.
He said he had discussed the issue with Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives (in-charge), Sivakasi, R. Venugopal and suggested that the Explosives Rules 2008 could be amended suitably.
Mr. Venugopal said that the Chief Controller of Explosives, Nagpur, will soon take up amendment to the Explosives Act and Rules. “Our office can forward this suggestion on getting a proposal from the State police,” he said.
No traceMr. Singh said that as of now, the outer boxes bear the batch number, date of manufacturing and name and address of the manufacturer. “However, when the box is opened, the cartridges in which explosives are packed in smaller quantities do not bear the batch number. So, even if somebody is caught for illegal possession of explosives, we cannot trace the licensee,” he added.
The IGP said that licensees often sold explosives to quarries and for digging wells. “In the case of wells, the licensee does not hand over the explosives to the farmers, but gives them to licensed short firers, who are experts in handling explosives. But, it is not clear whether the short firers exhaust the entire quantity of explosives bought by the farmer or divert the remnant chemicals,” he added.
Stating that PESO had fully computerised the use and sale of explosives, Mr. Venugopal said that all the licensees have to submit their quarterly returns through online facility to the licensing authority, District Collector and Superintendent of Police. There are around 40 licensed sellers and users in the 11 districts which come under PESO, Sivakasi.
