Govt comes down hard on explosive use in firework displays

The Centre on Monday tightened the use of explosives during firework displays to prevent any recurrence of tragedy at the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi temple at Paravoor in Kerala, which had claimed 114 lives.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will ensure strict compliance of the Explosive Rules, 2008, by district administrations in Kerala.

She said that to prevent such incidents in future, there is an urgent need of tightening of enforcement of the Explosives Rules, 2008, by district authorities. However, she added that the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), which deals in the explosives sector, has simplified the process to take licences for the purpose.

"There will be no display of fireworks without licence," she said. A recent accident during display of fireworks at Paravoor, Kerala, has thrown up several discrepancies such as lack of effective enforcement of the Explosive Rules, 2008, on the part of the district administration. There was also discrepancy in the use of unauthorised fireworks at a public display site and non-adherence of prescribed safety distances between the display site and spectators.