THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) department has recommended to the government to make safety audit mandatory for granting permission for firework displays. It was in the wake of the Puttingal firework mishap that FRS director general Loknath Behera suggested safety audit based on the norms prescribed by the explosives rules.
FRS even conducted a safety audit prior to the Thrissur Pooram and suggested setting up of barricades at certain points to prevent the public from coming close to the spot where fireworks were conducted. The explosives rules prescribe 27 conditions, mainly safety parameters, for firework display. But these have been followed more in the breach, the Puttingal mishap being the latest instance.
“At present, the district magistrates occasionally seek the report of FRS before sanctioning permission for firework displays. But it is not being followed as a norm. Hence the FRS suggested that safety audit by FRS may be made mandatory for granting permission to firework display,” said Mr. Behera.
The safety norms prescribed by explosives rules include submission of a detailed plan along with the experience of persons supervising the firework and types of fireworks to be used, maintaining a minimum distance of 100 metres between spectators and the area where the display is carried out, restrictions on display while wind velocity exceeds 50 km per hour and restrictions of firework display within 250 metres of hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
SAFETY NORMS SOUGHT AT PUTTINGAL
The Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) had suggested to the revenue officials that permission should be granted for the Puttingal firework display only if the safety norms prescribed by explosives rules were followed. “As per a directive of the Kollam district collector with regard to granting sanction for fireworks at Puttingal, FRS local officials had inspected the spot and suggested that permission should be granted subject to the condition that the safety norms prescribed under the explosives rules were adhered to,” said FRS director-general Loknath Behera.
