THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The row over holding the festival at Maha Ganapathy temple at Poojappura central jail has intensified with former chief secretary M. Vijayanunni alleging that the prison officials have resorted to collecting funds from the public to conduct the three-day long festival. He has also objected to the sound menace due to the fireworks display in the night which is a blatant violation of the Surpreme Court rules.
“It is a government temple and hence the jail officials are fully responsible for its management including the noise menace at night due to the newly-introduced festival and fireworks at night shattering the sleep and health of the people and the peace and quiet of the area. It is a gross violation of the law as laid down by the Supreme Court, and they should put a stop to it”, said Vijayanunni.
But jail superintendent Suresh had the other day itself confirmed to DC that he had decided to ban the fireworks in the backdrop of Puttingal tragedy. He also informed that after auditing, the funds sought from sponsors including sub-jail/district jail authorities until Alappuzha have come close to Rs 5 lakh.
“The offering from the public in the hundi has come to Rs 50, 000. Also, we have a fixed deposit account at a nationalized bank and a jail welfare cooperative society which comes to Rs 2.5 lakh.
“His allegation that we had collected money from the public is untrue as we distributed only the notice in the neighborhood to inform them of the temple festival”, said Suresh, who has been working as Poojappura jail superintendent since the last eight months.
