The Tamil Nadu government wants to see the spill containment process completed by 18-19 December.
When the rivers of Ennore ran oily. (Supplied)
Four sea-cleaning agencies have joined the ongoing recovery operations at Chennai’s Ennore, where an oil spill triggered panic, causing environmental concerns.
On Saturday, 16 December, Vens Hydra Lifts Pvt Limited and Neowin India Limited joined the Sea Care Marine Services and Viraj Clean Sea Enterprises cleaning agencies from Mumbai, the Tamil Nadu government said in a release.
On Friday, the Tamil Nadu government announced that Mumbai-based sea cleaning expert services have been roped in to join the oil mitigation work at Ennore.
The machinery employed for oil extraction from the sea has been reinforced. Further, oil recovery measures and soil and shore clean-up were carried out in Mugathuvara Kuppam, Ennore Kuppam, Nettukuppam, and Kattukuppam villages.
The impacted area has now been categorised into four stretches for intensive review and mitigation. Each stretch will be taken care of by a dedicated team to complete the mitigation process by 18 or 19 December, the release said.
The oil spill that happened on 4 December from the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) contaminated the Kosasthalaiyar River via the Buckingham Canal.
The oil spill reached the Bay of Bengal via Ennore Creek, leaving the shores and the water unfit for fishing.
If the layer of oil on the water prevents oxygen permeation, there would be a massive loss of marine life.
The oil leak, which is at its worst at the Kosasthalaiyar River, underlines the failures of the state government.
It may be noted that the National Green Tribunal, in July 2022, ordered the Environment Department to come up with a detailed project report to study the Ennore Creek and protect wetlands.
“If there were a plan, there would have been measures regarding containing contamination of discharges into the river,” said Durga Moorthy.
Kosasthalaiyar River, with the double carrying capacity of the Adyar and Cooum rivers, is a natural water draining system. It is also home to many encroachments, including illegally laid transmission towers and construction debris that have not been adequately removed after erecting towers belonging to The Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited (TANTRANSCO).
the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board submitted on Tuesday, 12 December, in the National Green Tribunal-Southern Bench, that the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited must act immediately to eliminate the oil slick.
In its report, the TNPCB said that CPCL shall be liable to pay compensation, and its operations may have to be suspended if conditions are not complied with.
The Board said, “It was noticed that oil mixed and oil slick stretches were found spread from the unit CPCL to Ennore Creek up to a distance of 11 km.”
CPCL has removed only a small quantity through oil-absorbent pads, and it has not made adequate progress to the satisfaction of the TNPCB.
It was also found that another firm, Toshiba-JSW, had not “properly handled” waste oil that may have been mixed in Buckingham Canal.
TNPCB said, “This unit is now being thoroughly investigated by the TNPCB to initiate action if it is proved that there are violations.”
Days ago, the CPCL authorities were instructed by the TNPCB to use booms and gully sucker machines as part of measures to contain and eliminate oil from water, and the company accordingly commenced operations.
The CPCL had earlier informed that (as of 8 December 2023) they have curtailed oil reaching the Buckingham Canal.
The TNPCB quoted CPCL as stating that they drained stagnant water following rains and floods, and in the process, “oily matter” on the ground could have found its way to the canal.
It added, “They (CPCL) informed that there was no leakage from the tank farm area, process area including pipelines carrying raw material and product.”
Other oil industries of North Chennai located in Tondiarpet and Kodungaiyur said there was no leak from their facilities.
The Tamil Nadu government constituted a technical team on 10 December to ascertain the cause of the recent oil leak in the Ennore Creek area.
Based on the team’s report and recommendations of the TNPCB’s field officials, the CPCL has been directed to comply with specific conditions.
Such conditions are remedial measures on war footing to remove oil deposits/oil slick and ensure that all pipelines and tanks have absolutely no leakage.
“If CPCL is found to discharge oil containing water/ polluted water against the norms set out for industries under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, their operations are liable to be suspended.”
The CPCL shall also be liable to pay compensation, which includes environmental compensation for damage to families adversely hit by oil spills and loss of livelihood.
The CPCL must undertake a comprehensive mapping study with a reputed technical institution to identify oil spread areas and furnish the report action plan. It must ensure that no such leak happens in future, the TNPCB said in its report filed in the NGT-Southern bench.
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