Kerala govt urges BJP to amend fireworks rules for Thrissur Pooram festival

The Left government in Kerala has taken strong exception to the recent gazette notification issued by the Centre stipulating certain conditions for conducting fireworks, contending that these would be detrimental to the smooth conduct of the iconic Thrissur Pooram festival. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, State Revenue Minister K Rajan expressed that the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on October 11 has brought "utter disappointment" to Pooram enthusiasts, for whom fireworks are an "integral part" of the festival. He sought the prime minister's personal intervention to amend the rules in order to allow the Thrissur Pooram to proceed with all its festivities and rituals. Among other stipulations, Condition No 2 requires that the licensed magazine be located at least 200 metres away from the display site. Noting that under the Explosive Rules of 2008, the prescribed distance had been 45 metres, the letter stated that the increase in thi