Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday ruled out a complete ban on firework displays in the wake of the Kollam temple tragedy , saying they will be allowed subject to strict controls.
Chandy said at a media briefing after an all-party conference that a blanket ban on firecracker display is "not practical". Most of the temples and some other religious institutions in Kerala use firework displays for their annual festivals.
The Chief Minister also said his government will approach the Kerala High Court to get its order relaxed for conducting the Thrissur Pooram, Kerala's biggest temple festival. The court had ordered that high-decibel fireworks should be banned between sunset and sunrise.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, meanwhile, said that chemicals used in fireworks need to be checked, adding that disastrous materials should not be allowed.
"We have decided to completely ban firework competitions. The ban will be imposed by police. The chemicals used must be checked and disastrous materials should not be allowed," said the state home minister.
Demands were raised for ban on firework displays in Kerala after an an accident during the festival at the Puttingal Devi Temple in Kollam killed 113 people and injured more than 350 others.
The Kerala High Court had on Wednesday said that fireworks with sound would not be permitted between 6 pm to 6 am. The Wildlife conservation authority had also raised concerns about using elephants during the procession. Keeping the restrictions in mind, the organisers asserted that it would not be possible for them to carry on with the festival.
With the Kollam temple tragedy bringing to focus safety issues, the Thrissur district administration had also on Wednesday imposed regulations including use of low decibel crackers. The administration had decided to give sanction to two temple devaswoms (boards) to use a total of 4,000 kg low decibel fire crackers for the April 17 finale of Pooram festival.
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