Fireworks today, but uncertainty over nod

Thrissur: The signed order giving approval for the main fireworks of both Paramekakkavu and Thiruvambadi Devaswoms for Thrissur Pooram have not yet reached the devaswoms officials and revenue officials inspecting the display ground at Thekkinkkad maidan as late as 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

The main fireworks is scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Speaking to DC, Thiruvambadi Devaswom secretary M Madahvankutty said that by 4 p.m. the news channels were flashing that Collector A Kowsigan had given approval of the main fireworks, but the devaswoms had not got any written order regarding this till 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

“I had called the Collector’s office and they said that the order would be sent soon.  Because of the delay in getting the written order, we are not able to line up our fireworks items on the display ground and the magazine storing the fireworks items remains closed in the maidan. If we get the order without further delay, we will be able to conduct the fireworks as scheduled,” he said.

It is learnt from sources in PESO and the Thiruvambadi devaswom that the ‘kuzhiminnis’ of the devaswom tested before sample fireworks had been found with traces of banned potassium chlorate.

But none of the officials including the Collector and S.M. Kulkarni, Deputy Chief Controller of PESO office at Kakkanad in Kochi, have made any official statement in this regard.

Thiruvambadi had not used any ‘Kuzhiminnis’ for the sample fireworks held on Monday. For Praramekkavu Devaswom, the Collector had sought a report on two fireworks accidents during sample fireworks conducted by the devaswom on Monday evening.  Six persons including three persons associated with the devaswom had suffered injuries during the sample.