The Kerala High Court has granted conditional clearance for fireworks display as part of the Thrissur Pooram on Sunday.
Observing that Pooram was part of the cultural legacy of Thrissur, a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Sivaraman, said the fireworks display should be strictly in accordance with the stipulations laid down by the Supreme Court in 2007 and without using any banned explosive material or causing sound beyond the permissible limit of 125 decibels.
The court was hearing a writ plea against fireworks display in the State.
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The court also heard the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi Devaswoms, which conduct the festival on the grounds of the Vadakkunnathan Temple in the heart of Thrissur city.
The Division Bench asked the two Devaswoms to ensure that the fireworks display does not cause harm to any person or damage to the temple and nearby buildings. The material used should be certified to be safe by the authorities concerned, the court said.
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It also heard the Advocate-General, who informed the court that the government had nothing against the fireworks display being permitted subject to strict conditions for ensuring safety to life and property.
The government, he said, would deploy disaster management teams and provide security cover at different levels to facilitate smooth conduct of the pyrotechnics. The court was also told that the Crime Branch investigation into the Puttingal fireworks disaster was on and should be allowed to continue. The government’s submission was accepted by the court, which said the investigation could go on.
The two Devaswoms welcomed the court’s order and announced that the customary sample fireworks display would take place as scheduled on Friday evening. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Oommen Chandy are scheduled to visit Thrissur and hold talks with the office-bearers of the two Devaswoms on Friday.
The government has, meanwhile, withdrawn the order issued by the Forest Department on Wednesday imposing strong curbs on parading of elephants as part of Pooram festivities.
‘Pooram restrictions unfortunate’
Kerala BJP, on Thursday, alleged that the Congress-led UDF government was trying to put an end to the famous Thrissur Pooram by enforcing various restrictions on the annual celebrations of the temple festival.
BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan said the Thrissur event, considered to be the pooram (festival) of all poorams, brings out not only culture and traditions of the town but that of entire Kerala.
The State administration’s action in imposing restrictions on the pooram festival in the light of the Kollam fireworks tragedy was very “unfortunate”, he said.
The Puttingal Devi temple tragedy had occurred due to lack of proper policies and inefficiency.
(With inputs from PTI)