THRISSUR: An RTI document obtained on Monday from the public information officer of the sub-collector here has cast apprehensions over the standard safety measures the district administration adopted for fireworks at Thrissur Pooram in April this year. As the fireworks were soon after the Puttingal tragedy in which more 100 persons lost their lives, the high court had directed the district administration and its organisers to monitor the preparations for fireworks closely and to follow all norms.
In reply to V.K. Venkitachalam of NGO Heritage Animal Task Force, it says the district collector had not appointed any official to collect samples of substances used, and no scientific method employed to measure the amount of gunpowder both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi Devaswom used within the permitted limit of 2,000 kg each.
A document dated May 20 of Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) says the district magistrate had appointed five persons to collect samples. But the RTI reply seems to contradict what PESO had stated. PESO officials on their behalf had collected samples, and some of them contained potassium chlorate, a banned substance in fireworks.
“The PESO test report was out in May, and both the district administration and devaswoms have not taken any action on the use of banned chemical. As per the Explosives Act and Rules 2008, based on which the permission was granted for Pooram, using such banned chemicals calls for severe punishment,” Mr Venkitachalam argued.
