Government to facilitate Pooram

Thiruvananthapuram: The government is taking steps to facilitate Thrissur Pooram.

Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor  Radhakrishnan has asked the Chief Conservator of Forests to withdraw his circular specifying conditions for parading elephants and hold discussions with the devaswom authorities with a few to facilitate the fair.

The Chief Conservator had directed that elephants should not be paraded between 10 am and 5 pm and they should be paraded with minimum distance of three metres with them. They should not be paraded at a stretch for more than 3 hours. This, if implemented, will upset tradition spectacle of changing umbrellas.

Intense lobbying is on to ensure that the Pooram festival goes on as usual. A sit-in is underway in Thrissur. The devaswoms will also approach the Court. They maintained that the festival would be reduced to the rites if authorities did not relent.

However, a lot will depend on the deliberations of the all-party meeting and the decision of the High Court this afternoon. The government will be taking a view in favour of conducting the Pooram before the Court.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala would be holding discussion with the devawsom representatives and officials tomorrow on steps to facilitate holding of the Pooram.