Kerala - Thrissur   

Pandals, arches causing inconvenience to public

K. Santhosh

Corporation allegedly disregards High Court ban on arches, pandals

Bending Rules: Arches have been erected across the main roads in Thrissur by various outfits.

THRISSUR: Every other major road in Thrissur sports arches erected by political parties, religious organisations or festival committees that cause traffic jams and inconvenience to pedestrians.

During festivals such as Pooram, pandals too are erected across public roads.

"Citizens' fora have been fighting for long against erecting these structures. The accident on Pooram day substantiates our argument,'' says V. K. Venkitachalam, secretary, Kerala Public Interest Forum. A few persons were injured in the commotion that followed the collapse of a pandal at the Swaraj Round on Pooram day, according to the police.

"The pandals were made of inferior material. Improper construction made the pandals structurally unsound. One fell in the heavy rain and another wobbled in the wind. The Corporation did not take steps to ensure that the pandals were properly constructed,'' Mr. Venkitachalam alleges.

For that matter, the pandals should not have been erected at all across the road, argues K. S. Ramanathan, a former school teacher.

"The organisers could have constructed them in the Thekkinkad Maidan, where there is lot of space. And spared the public some distress,'' he adds.

In a case filed by Jana Neethi, the High Court had observed on January 11, 2002, that the secretaries of local bodies should exercise their powers to prevent erection of pandals and arches that cause traffic jams and inconvenience to pedestrians.

When arches continued to be raised even after the High Court had ordered a ban on them, Jana Neeti filed a case against the District Collector, superintendent of police and the Corporation secretary, alleging breach of law and contempt of court.

The Jana Neethi had submitted to the Court photos of arches erected by political parties.

The then Corporation secretary, G. Bennan, told the High Court that the Corporation would ensure that the ban was implemented.

"After the initial effort, the Corporation forgot to do its duty,'' says Mr. Venkitachalam.

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Pandals, arches causing inconvenience to public

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