Berhampur, Sept. 12: Police have intensified crackdown on illegal cracker manufacturing units in Ganjam district in the wake of a number of mishaps.

"I have asked all inspectors in charge of the police stations across the district to destroy firecrackers being manufactured at the illegal units," said Ganjam police superintendent Narasingh Bhol.

"We have also decided to keep a strict vigil on the cracker traders, whose licences lapsed on March 31, and those, who have applied for fresh licence. I have circulated a new format to all the inspectors in charge to record the safety measures they have taken to store and manufacture firecrackers," said Bhol.

This year, four persons died in accidents at these illegal cracker-manufacturing units. According to Ganjam district police records, 27 persons have been killed in blasts at the cracker-manufacturing units in Ganjam over the past three decades. However, the incidents have not deterred the people from engaging in the trade.

Now, the cracker-manufacturing business is on in full swing ahead of Diwali. The trade in Berhampur mainly depends on supply from Sivakasi and two places of Ganjam district - Nalabanta and Ankuspur.

"Most of the cracker-makers are farmers, and during the kharif crop season, they have some spare time which they use to manufacture crackers without caring to get a licence. Such farmers get their entire family, including women and children, involved in the dangerous trade," said Padma Charan Sahu, an author.

He said though there were some licensed fireworks-manufacturing units, one could find a large number of illegal cracker-making units at Nalabanta, Bhetanai and Kharada.

Chemicals such as potash, sulphur, iron, zinc and aluminium are the primary raw materials used to manufacture fireworks. These chemicals are collected clandestinely from Berhampur and Calcutta. The other major ingredient - bamboo strips - is procured from Balipadar, Bhetanai and Jagannathprasad.

Fireworks manufacturing was first introduced at Nalabanta village by the then king of Dharakote princely state before Independence. After Independence, the villagers took it up as a profession.

According to official records, there are some cracker units that renew their licences every year.

"There are three such licensed units at Purushottampur, two at Chikitipentha, one each at Bhatakumurada, Seragada, Polsara and Balakrushnapur under Kukudakhandi block and at Ankushpur and Sabardeipur on the Odisha-Andhra border.

Deputy director (fire services) M. Jaga Rao said: "Though we all are aware about the illegal cracker-manufacturing units, we cannot do much, because we have not been empowered to conduct raids and make seizures. Though the Explosive Act, 1884, was amended in 2008 and 2009 to this effect, the provisions could not be enforced as the rules are yet to be framed. We look only the precautionary measures to make the crackers traders aware about the safety issues."

"Once the fire service personnel are empowered to conduct raids, make seizures and take action against mushrooming illegal firecracker units, it will definitely put a brake on the illegal cracker manufacturing," said Rao.