News and Views

Kerala High Court has issued an interim stay on use of high decibel pyrotechnics during night.

The Devaswom Bench of the Court issued the order considering a letter written by sitting judge of the Court V. Chidambaresh as public interest litigation.

The stay will apply to use of crackers that cause intense noise at night between sunset and sunrise. There will not be any bar on use of fireworks that yield colourful displays.

Kerala Government will convene an all-party meet on April 14 to discuss ban on fireworks in places of worship.

People living near the devi temple at Puttingal remembers Sunday morning’s fireworks accident that claimed 109 lives with shudder.

There are as many as 25 houses close to the temple complex.  About 20 of them were damaged. Half a dozen of those houses suffered substantial damage from the shock and projectiles.

The fireworks display at Thrissur Pooram will be staged this year also, but with increased restrictions in view of the fireworks tragedy at Paravoor near Kollam on Sunday.

In fact, it is very difficult to restrict fireworks displays in Kerala not to speak of banning them. The Thrissur pooram is a tourist attraction besides being an important event for the devotees.  For years, pyrotechnics has been part of the Pooram, one of the biggest annual spectacles in Kerala.  It is not only the traditionalists but also the populace of Thrissur would not want it to be abandoned.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kollam District Collector A. Shainamol has sought explanation from Kollam Police Commissioner on the failure to enforce the order of the Additional District Magistrate banning competitive fireworks display at the Paravoor Puttingal Devi temple.

The fireworks accident at the temple has so far claimed 109 lives. At least seven are in critical condition.