Chemical disasters waiting to happen

KOCHI: Being the hub of factories, Kochi always has threat of a chemical   disaster looming over it. But, can the city withstand this worst nightmare? The answer is an emphatic ‘no’. The officials of the Factories and Boilers Department said Kochi was not  equipped to meet such a disaster. They added that they were helpless as the department lacked even the basic facilities needed to access the public in case of emergency.  “Kochi, being one of the major industrial belts, is vulnerable to chemical disasters. Communication is the first vital step in such a situation. How are we supposed to reach the public if we do not have even a phone or a fax connection,” asked the officials. Though a building has been constructed to house an emergency call-centre, it  is yet to start functioning.Abdul Naser, Joint Director, Factories and Boilers Department, confirmed  that the department lacked an emergency call-centre and a full-fledged laboratory. “We have very limited resources. The department is trying its     best to tackle serious crisis with available resources,” he said. He added  that they were awaiting the response of the government to the various proposals submitted before it.The security of the factories in Kochi lies in the efficient functioning of  the Factories and Boilers Department. For conducting regular checks, the  department needs a full-fledged laboratory which is not there.  “Prevention is the primary step and for that we need to conduct regular  checks and inspections. But, we don’t have a laboratory with required equipment,” sources said. The officials are unable to inspect certain machines for want of proper     instruments which help them identify their lifespan. “Not checking the lifespan of machines can be dangerous. Rather than condemning them, they are used even after their expiry period which increase the chances of explosions  and similar risks,” sources said.  Lack of coordination among staff is another headache for the department. Though it is mandatory that the personnel of Fire and Rescue Service and the  Factories and Boilers Department work in close coordination, sources with  these departments say cooperation between both the departments is nil.