VIJAYAWADA: Though unauthorised firecracker manufacturing units and storage points have been posing a threat to the lives of people over the years, the powers-that-be have failed to set up a monitoring committee comprising police, revenue and fire department officials to act against such units.
The death of an MBA student, and injuries to four others due to an explosion in an unauthorised firecracker unit at Bypass Road in Machilipatnam on
Tuesday is a grim reminder of the danger that lurks undetected.
The blast brought the fact that this unit was not an isolated case, to the fore.
Besides, unauthorised firecracker storage points pose a threat to the lives of people.
Despite repeated police clampdown, such storage points exist in the congested lanes of I-Town in Vijayawada and at Machilipatnam.
Though Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinarajappa has warned of serious action against such unauthorised units after visiting Vakatippa village where an explosion at another unauthorised firecracker unit claimed the lives of 18 people, the administration has failed to set up a monitoring committee to curb the menace.
District fire officer V. Srinivas said that they have no authority to stop such units. “All we can do is swing into action and put out the fires after any mishap,” he said.
Incidentally, half of the district’s fire personnel and fire tenders have been deputed to Visakhapatnam to take part in the cyclone relief works.
Mr Srinivas said that he and his men are more than willing to act if a monitoring committee is formed police, revenue and fire officials to curb the menace of unauthorised fire cracker units.
