The Kerala government has expressed its willingness to institute a CBI probe into the fireworks tragedy at Puttingal temple in Paravoor, Kollam, on Sunday, which has claimed 113 lives as of now.
This will be conveyed to the High Court of Kerala which is currently hearing a series of cases on the subject, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told newspersons here.
Chandy said this while giving details of the proceedings of a meeting of the state cabinet held this morning. A three-member cabinet sub-committee will visit the site of the tragedy for making an on-the-spot study of the situation.
Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, Health Minister VS Sivakumar, and Labour Minister Shibu Baby John will be members of the sub-committee, which will submit its report to the cabinet.
It will advise the cabinet on the grant of assistance to be extended for damages to dwelling units, crops and even drinking water sources reported from the neighbourhood in the aftermath of the explosions.
BAN SOUGHT
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the demand of CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala for 'failure to prevent the tragedy' was unacceptable.
This is not the time for politicising an unfortunate event that has claimed more than a 100 lives, he said.
Separately, the Director-General of Police TP Senkumar has sought a blanket ban on fireworks of all types in the state since putting controls on the activity not practical.
The state government has called an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation arising out of the tragedy and discuss ways to prevent its recurrence in view of the festival season.