All party meeting decides not to ban firework display in Kerala

Kerala High Court allows firework display in Thrissur Pooram on various conditions

An all party meeting organised to decide on whether the fireworks display should be banned in Kerala has concluded that it is better to take effective steps to control it rather than banning it altogether. The meeting was held in the backdrop of the firework tragedy that happened on Sunday at Puttingal Devi Temple, Kollam, where around over 100 people died and around 300 were injured.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, after the meeting, told reporters that the conclusion at the meeting was that the ban on competitive display should continue strictly. At the meeting it was also decided to demand the Centre to declare the fire mishap in Kollam as a national calamity, according to local reports.

A special relief fund will be created to help rehabilitation of those who were affected in the accident.

They also decided to take measures to conduct Thrissur Pooram, the mother of all Pooram festivals in Kerala, with the rituals. The High Court has this week ordered banning high-decibel crackers and bursting crackers from sunset to sunrise, a decision that is supposed to affect the festival. Chief Minister Chandy said that fireworks are part of tradition and belief at Thrissur Pooram.

Meanwhile, the High Court issued permission for firework display related to Thrissur Pooram, on conditions that the banned substances will not be used in the display and the regulations related to high-decibel fireworks shsall be strictly followed.