Thrissur: Acting on the report of deputy chief explosives controller on the use of banned explosives for Thrissur Pooram fireworks held on April 2016, Thrissur additional District Magistrate (ADM) here on Tuesday suspended the licence of the fireworks contractors of Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devasoms. An official release said the licences for making fireworks of Stibin Stephen (of Paramekkavu) and P.M. Satheesh (of Thiruvambadi) stand cancelled for “using banned chemicals including potassium chlorate” last year.
The order has come as a shot in the arm of anti-firework activists here who have now demanded action against both the devasowms and the then district collector V. Ratheesan for their alleged oversight. V.K. Venkitachalam of Heritage Animal Task Force based in Thrissur told DC that as the Pooram fireworks were conducted close on the heels of Puttingal fireworks tragedy in which more 100 persons lost their lives, the High Court had directed the district administration and organisers to closely monitor the preparations for Thrissur Pooram fireworks and to follow all norms. Former UDF government had assured the HC that all safety aspects would be taken care of for pooram fire works, he noted. “All these parties need to give a great deal of explanation over the mixing of such banned chemicals putting at stake the lives of tens of hundreds of firework buffs who attended the display this year,” he said.
