Kochi: The Kerala High Court has ordered Aluva Municipality to ensure that necessary safety arrangements are in place while allowing temporary amusement parks as part of Sivarathri celebrations which falls on Tuesday.
A division bench ordered this on a petition filed by Thottumugham native Gireesh M M requesting the High Court to issue a direction to Aluva Municipal secretary to ensure safety. The petitioner submitted that all amusement park operators on the Manalpuram should obtain NOC from the PWD mechanical office, Fire and Rescue office and the municipal office regarding the structural stability, load bearing capacity, and safety features of the equipment used in the rides. The amusement parks offer a number of rides including giant wheel. Unless they are safe, mishaps can happen anytime resulting in loss of lives, the petitioner submitted.
The standing counsel for the municipality submitted that the engineer of the municipality and engineering department are competent to assess the structural stability and fitness of the equipment used at the amusement parks.A government order on July 31, 2006 had underscored this.
The counsel for the Travancore Devaswom Board also submitted that all steps would be taken to conduct the Sivarathri festival in a safe and secure manner.
Following this the court ordered that the engineer of the municipality should ensure the structural stability, load bearing capacity and safety features of the equipment used in the amusement parks and permission shall be granted only after ensuring that the equipment are fail-safe.
