THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When Thrissur Pooram is kicked off on May 5, it will see fireworks sans potassium chlorate. This decision was taken at the high-level meeting chaired by industries minister A. C. Moideen here on Wednesday. Agriculture and farmers welfare department minister V. S. Sunil Kumar who also attended the meeting told reporters that there would not be any safety lapse. He said there was no ban on any of the fireworks, but potassium chlorate, a highly explosive chemical. “Fireworks that have got the certification from the Sivakasi-based Central government institute, Fire Works Research Development Centre can be used in Thrissur Pooram. Also, for the first time in the country, we'll use high volume long range monitor with automatic fire extinguish system," said Mr Kumar, adding it would be set up using his MLA fund.
The meeting also decided to provide those who handle fireworks with special luminous jackets. Quick match fuse system will also be put into use which is mainly used to douse the fire. Both the ministers have asked the Thrissur Pooram festival committees to ensure that all forms of safety measures are in place. Hyderabad-based deputy chief comptroller of explosion rank officials R. Venugopal, S. M. Kulkarni and Kandaswami, chief secretary Nalini Netto, Thrissur DCP N. Vijayakumar and T. Narayanan, ACP Gopalakrishnan and Thrissur district collector Dr A. Kowsigan, also attended the meeting.
