Failure to implement Gopinathan Commission recommendations blamed for recurring fireworks disasters

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The failure to implement the recommendations of the Justice P.S. Gopinathan Judicial Commission, which investigated the Puttingal fireworks tragedy that claimed 110 lives and injured over 750 people, is cited as the primary reason for recurring accidents. Although the commission proposed strict guidelines, including an 85-decibel noise limit and mandatory inspections by Police and Fire Force departments during preparations, these remain ignored. Despite the government accepting the report and presenting it in the Legislative Assembly, the recommendations have not been enforced.

The commission had mandated that chemical samples used in fireworks be submitted to the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives in Sivakasi and the Chief Controller of Explosives in Nagpur for testing. Additionally, manufacturers were required to disclose the ingredients, quantity, and nature of items like Kuzhiminni and Amittu to the authorities. These directives have been largely disregarded. The commission also suggested that traditional firework items must carry labels indicating the date of manufacture, weight, noise level, and maximum height, but this rule is yet to be implemented.

To ensure public safety, the commission recommended that at least 25% of a festival’s budget be allocated for security measures. It also proposed that a nodal officer be briefed on safety preparations 15 days in advance. Furthermore, suggestions to appoint officials not below the rank of Junior Superintendent or Deputy Tahsildar to oversee safety and to prepare a security plan four months in advance were also rejected.

Current practices also ignore the directive that the District Disaster Management Authority, chaired by the Collector, must assess potential risks two weeks before an event. The recommendation to appoint a senior festival committee member as a 'Festival Controller', directly responsible for safety arrangements, is also not being followed.

Major recommendations ignored:

1. Risk assessment plan
2. On-site emergency plan
3. Safe storage facilities
4. Chemical testing of samples
5. Noise pollution monitoring