What are Gelatin sticks? Where they are used? – Burning Issues – Free PDF

Gelatin sticks and Explosives

• Gelatin sticks are cheap explosive materialsused by industries for the purpose of mining and construction related work, like building structures, roads, rails and tunnels etc.
• They cannot be used without a detonator.

• Only licensed explosive manufacturers can make gelatin sticks.
• The manufacture is regulated by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), formerly known as Department of Explosives.
• Since its inception on September 5, 1898, it has been the nodal agency for regulating safety of hazardous substances such as explosives, compressed gas and petroleum.

• The body looks after the approval, grant, amendment and renewal etc. of various licenses and permits regarding manufacture, testing, authorisation, storage, transportation, use, import, and export of explosives.
• The PESO comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and carries out administration work of the Explosive Act 1884 and Explosives Rules 2008 etc.

• According to the Anti-Terrorist squad, Maharashtra from 2002 till 2003, gelatin sticks were used in attacks by a terror organization called the Gujarat Muslim Revenge Force in Mumbai.
• In one of these attacks, the gelatin sticks had been sourced from a quarry on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

• The government has recently introduced a rule that individual explosives should also be barcoded i.e every cartridge should be barcoded.
• Prior license is required not just to make, but also to sell and buy explosives

• Prior license is requirednot just to make, but also to sell and buy explosives.
• Licensed private companies who buy in bulk may not make use of all the gelatin sticks they buy, and may sell it onward in the black market.
• The customers may be small time contractors who use it in construction work or private individuals who mainly use it to blast wells.

• Even if the gelatin sticks are barcoded, once the blast takes place this measure is of no use.
• Hence, to avoid any such incident, very close monitoring of manufactures and sellers is required.

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