The question of security threat that was highlighted ever since large quantities of explosives were detected in the district as a part of the scrap imported by industrial units has been taken up.

The district administration has written a letter to the Punjab government to check imported scraps. The Army had demanded that the Customs and the excise department should check the scraps.

'I received a written information and requisitions from the Army that such a large quantity of explosives as are being detonated in Matterwara would be a security threat not only for the state but the entire country.

I have forwarded the requisition to state home department authorities to take up the matter with the Union government. It would take over two months for the detonations to end,' said Ludhiana deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari.

Over 200 quintals of explosives had landed as a part of the scrap that was imported from Gulf countries by a Mandi Gobindgarh-based furnace firm. It was kept in six containers at the Dry Port in Dhandari Kalan area in July 2004.

The detonation of these explosives had become a major problem for the administration and finally after a number of meetings with the army and the other departments the district administration had decided to fix November 16th as the day for the detonation exercise to begin under operation sayam by 202 Bomb disposal unit of the Indian Army from Jalandhar cantonment.