Triggering concern among the organisers of various temple festivals, including Thrissur Pooram, the office of the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives has issued a circular tightening the rules for fireworks display during temple festivals.
In a circular issued to the Chief Secretary, District Magistrates and District Police Chiefs, the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) said that most temples in Kerala were conducting fireworks display violating all provisions of Explosives Rule 2008 and various conditions of licence jeopardising the safety of people and property.
“Competent authorities are not effectively controlling such public fireworks display and allow use of unauthorised fireworks such as amittu, gundu ,and kuzhiminnal without maintaining the required safe distance and facility for storage of fireworks. If such a situation persists, there is every possibility of the recurrence of the Puttingal accident,” the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives noted in the circular.
The circular pointed out that the district magistrate does not have the authority to provide licence for manufacturing amittu, gundu and kuzhimminnal. The manufacturers should submit a proposal to the PESO, it stressed.
Festival organisers have been flouting rules though the PESO issued guidelines on fireworks display for public safety. Various awareness programmes and workshops for the authorities also didn’t bring any result, the Deputy Chief Controller noted.
The major requirements for the grant of licence for public display of fireworks are: use of authorised fireworks manufactured by PESO licence holder; fireworks magazine licence for storage at display site from the PESO; a safe distance of 100 m all around the display site and 250 m from hospitals and schools and onsite and offsite emergency plans.
No licence shall be granted unless all the provisions are complied with, the circular emphasised. A 22-point guideline has been issued in the circular to ensure public safety. The fireworks manufactured under the permission of district magistrate will not be allowed.
Thrissur Pooram firework was held last year following a special permission issued at the last minute. The samples of the fireworks were cleared in Chennai. Spectators were not allowed to enter the Swaraj Round during the display.
