CBI takes samples from six Virudhunagar cracker units

A team comprising 14 officials from the CBI got access to such units to check whether barium nitrate, chemical substance banned by the Supreme Court from using to manufacture crackers years ago, was made available in such units.

After inspections at six units, which lasted for hours together, the team lifted some samples for testing in laboratory.

Moreover, the team also took some chemical compounds from a unit near Sattur and also picked up a volume of finished products, which had been sealed in a box, for test analysis.

Finally, the test reports would be submitted before the Supreme Court, sources said.

The inspection was made as per the directive from the Supreme Court after a petition filed by Arjun from West Bengal was heard on March 3.

The petitioner claimed that despite ban imposed by the Supreme Court in its interim judgment on the use of barium nitrate, some cracker manufacturing units were still making use of it in violation. The Supreme Court also stressed the need for producing environment friendly ‘green crackers’.

The team had earlier convened a meeting with officials from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) in Virudhunagar before making inspections. Earlier, the local authorities were informed that the team had scheduled inspections on March 9, sources said.