Cuttack, Nov. 5: Residents shopping for firecrackers this Diwali will be spoilt for choice as the number of kiosks is expected to see a sharp rise in the city.
Official sources said already 402 traders have applied for temporary licence, while the number is likely to cross 500 this year. This has, however, left police a little worried. They have, therefore, decided to form special squads to put a check on illegal firecracker kiosks, as there is always a risk of mishap at such vulnerable sites.
They have also decided to strictly enforce various safety norms while granting temporary licence to traders. The owners have been strictly asked to keep fire extinguishers and water buckets near their shops.
Temporary licences were issued to nearly 371 applicants last year, whereas the number was 317 in 2013 and 355 in 2012.
"We have decided to form a joint squad along with the officials of pollution control board to ensure that the festival is observed peacefully," said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora. He said the squad would mainly focus on various safety parameters that the traders need to follow while stocking firecrackers.
The assistance of pollution control board has been sought to ensure that there is no sale of crackers emitting sound beyond 120 decibel.
The rise in the number of applicants for the temporary licence is mainly because of the profit that the traders had earned from the sale of crackers last year. Sources said that the city had registered a sale of Rs 8 crore last year, while the business is set to cross Rs 10 crore this year.
"We had done a good business last year and hope it will only increase owing to a favourable climate. Though there has been a hike of nearly 9 to 10 per cent in the price of firecrackers, it will not be a deterrent," said Sushil Sahu, a trader.
The fire services department has also geared up to ensure that the festival of lights passes off peacefully.
Senior officials said four temporary fire stations against three last year would be set up besides the permanent three stations in the city.
"An additional temporary fire station will be set up near Ravenshaw University at College Square other than the regular three temporary units at Choudhury Bazaar, Lalbagh and Madhupatna," said fire officer (central range) B.B. Das.
Das said over 120 fire-fighters would be pressed into service and in advance fire-fighting equipment would be stationed at different parts of the city during Diwali.
Explosion kills two
A 45-year-old woman and her 18-year-old daughter died in an explosion today while working at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit at Kanti village under Balikuda police station in Jagatsinghpur.
The deceased were identified as Jhansi Rani Biswal and Jharana Biswal. They were inside the house where the explosive chemicals were stored. The fireworks went off early in the morning and the bodies got mutilated beyond recognition, said Balikuda police station inspector Balram Nayak.
The severity of the blast also caused the concrete house, where the unit operated, to collapse.
The unit was manufacturing crackers without the mandatory licence required under the Explosives Act, said a police source.
Samples of explosive chemicals, which were recovered from the site, have been sent for scientific test. The police have also registered a case under Section 9 (B) Indian Explosives Act, Section 34 of the Explosive Substances Act and Indian Penal Code Section 304 (a).
The unit was manufacturing palm-leaf crackers ahead of Diwali. The incident has brought to light an alarming growth in clandestine firecracker manufacturing units across the district. These units work surreptitiously without following safety norms, and therefore, jeopardises the lives of those working there.
These illegal units thrive in various parts of Jagatsinghpur district.
Jagatsinghpur police superintendent Sudha Singh said that all police stations across the districts had been directed to launch a crackdown on these illegal units.
