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Plea to be filed on curbs on festivals

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has decided to file a review petition before the Supreme Court against its order imposing curbs on use of public address systems and conduct of festival programmes beyond 10 p.m.

Responding to a calling-attention motion, moved by Baby M. Palissery (Communist Party of India-Marxist), in the Assembly on Monday, Law Minister M. Vijayakumar said the Government had also decided to request the Union Government to amend the environmental protection Act of 1986 and the rules framed under it to facilitate conduct of festivals and temple rituals without hindrance.

The Government, he said, would also try to grant exemption to temples and other places of worship from the curbs on special occasions, invoking its discretionary powers under the relevant laws. However, a permanent solution would be possible only if the Supreme Court reviewed its order.

The whole issue was discussed at a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on February 28 and the Government was alive to the serious concerns of people about the Supreme Court verdict, Mr. Vijayakumar said.

IISER by next year

Responding to another calling-attention motion, moved by G. Karthikeyan (Congress), the Chief Minister said the Government had directed the Thiruvananthapuram District Collector to identify land suited for setting up the proposed Indian Institute of Science and Engineering Research (IISER). The Government was hopeful that it would be possible to set up the institute by next year, he added.

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