KOCHI: Even while incidents of fire occur in industrial areas in Kochi frequently, a proposal to set up a ‘ring main unit’ in Eloor-Aluva industrial belt is pending as the government is yet to give its approval.
The ring main unit consists of hydrants and a water pipeline network which passes through the industrial belt and once it becomes a reality, industrial units can put out fires on their own without waiting for firefighters from the fire and rescue services department to arrive.
If the fire can be contained at the onset it will reduce the damages and casualties. As per the proposal, huge water storage tanks will be constructed on the banks of Periyar near Eloor and Aluva. A pipeline will be installed connecting the industrial units and the water storage tanks. Once the system is in place, damages can be reduced to the minimum in case of a fire mishap, officials said.
“The fire and rescue services department has submitted the proposal to the government in April 2021. We are waiting for the government’s nod,” said an official with the fire and rescue services department.
Most of the industrial units set up in Aluva and Eloor areas decades ago don’t have adequate provisions for firefighting. “There would be hydrant points near each unit. Additional facilities should be arranged in each unit based on the nature of the hazardous substances used in it. If it is a hazardous chemical, for example, water mixed with foam should be sprayed to extinguish fire,” the official said.
Out of the 36 major accident hazardous units (MAH) in the state, 22 units are in Kochi and its suburbs. There are 1,600 large and close to 3,000 small industrial units in the district. Though a majority of these factories are in and around Kochi, they have not furnished details on the hazardous materials they handle and mitigating measures to be adopted to the fire and rescue department. This causes hardships in carrying out rescue operations during emergencies.
“When a firm, building or industrial unit seeks nod, it would show their business areas under a specific category. After getting permission, they would change the category of the unit,” said A F Jogy, district fire officer.
There are several business owners who have secured no-objection certificates from the fire and rescue services department under mercantile category and have later set up warehouses,” Jogy said.
