Thrissur: The Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu devaswoms have raised apprehensions over the circular of the deputy chief controller of explosives in Kochi banning high- decibel dynamite and ‘Kuzhiminals’ from the festival fireworks. They also expressed concern over the recent suspension of licence of their contractors by the additional district magistrate for using banned chemicals, including potassium chlorate, for the Thrissur Pooram fireworks. Thriuvambadi Devasom secretary M. Madhavankutty told DC that the devaswoms were yet to get the copy of the circular. After getting it all the issues would be discussed with legal experts.
“The devaswoms have been following the guidelines. The same officials of the controller of explosives are present here during the Pooram fireworks and they had not raised any complaints. Even this year, the officials had inspected the fireworks and our magazines and found nothing unusual. But now, after the chemical examination of the firework samples collected, the deputy chief controller of explosives in Kochi says that banned substance are being used,” he said.
“It was learnt that the circular was a re-confirmation of a similar order in 2008 and if so we wonder why the devaswoms were allowed to conduct fireworks all these eight years?” he said. “The decibel limit is set at 125 and we are sure that we have not crossed it,” he added. He also said that the digital fireworks introduced by the DTPC and the district administration for Onam fest this year were just a farce and such a display could not be a replacement for Thrissur Pooram fireworks. Meanwhile, the Pooram buffs here have started online campaigns claiming that such orders were against the spirit of Thrissur Pooram. But anti-firework campaigner V.K. Venkitachalam of Heritage Animal Task Force said that such a ban should have been in place several years ago.
