Berthed at Mattancherry wharf: A potential disaster

While authorities at the Berth admit that the sulphur mounds pose a fire hazard, they say they are not to blame. Narasimhan, deputy general manager of FACT, says, “We didn’t import all this sulphur. We have our own godowns to stock it.”

Inquiries at the Mattancherry wharf have revealed that sulphur is routinely imported into the wharf by clearing and forwarding agents and is stocked in the open till it is cleared by buyers. The fact that there is no permanent godown for the importers to stock sulphur also adds to the problem. Butauthorities at the wharf try to play down the danger. “Sulphur has caught fire earlier also. But it does not cause towering flames or spread like other fires. It smoulders, emitting smoke, and can be doused easily by throwing water,” sources say.

“Often the sulphur stocked here catches fire while being unloaded, mainly due to the friction on the conveyor belt. When that happens we stop all work and summon the fire force and douse the fire,” wharf authorities explained.

But then, fire is not the only hazard posed by the sulphur mounds. Its dust can cause itching, skin problems and soreness to the eyes. Employees in neighbouring offices have often complained about rashes, breathlessness and sore eyes. However, as usual, the complaints have gone unheard. Lorries often transport sulphur from the wharf without properly covering it with tarpaulin, spewing sulphur dust. “It can produce sulphuric acid in the body after interacting with the moisture content in the body,” warns environmentalist U KGopalan.

Besides, it is not sulphur alone that is polluting the city. At the South Coal Berth, coal is also stocked in the open and its dust often gets wafted across the thickly populated Mattancherry area.