KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday sought the Aluva municipality’s view on a petition against letting a temporary amusement park operate during Aluva Sivarathri festival at Manappuram.
The petition by M M Gireesh sought the court’s directive to the municipality, not to permit operation of the park unless the Public Works Department and fire force issued a no-objection certificate regarding the structural stability, load-bearing capacity and safety features of its equipment.
The petition submitted that the municipality gave the property adjacent to the Siva Temple on a short-term lease for commercial activities during the Sivarathri season. Among the activities was the setting up of a temporary amusement park with rides like ‘Slam boat’, ‘Well of death’, ‘Giant wheel’, ‘Tora Tora’ and others.
“During Sivarathri, lakhs of people turn up at the amusement park and enjoy the rides. However, the rides are operated without any safety features. The mechanical devices used are very old and ill-maintained,” it said .