Oil spill: Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board tells CPCL to act on war-footing

Oil spill

A thick “oil slick” was observed in stretches covered in Ennore Creek-Buckingham Canal in North Chennai.

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.”

As the layer of oil on the water prevents permeation of oxygen, there would be a huge loss of marine life.

Oil spill clean-ups are always a time-taking affair, as was seen during the Ennore oil spill in 2017 when an outbound empty tanker, the BW Maple, collided with an inbound loaded oil tanker, the Dawn Kanchipuram, outside Ennore’s Kamarajar Port.

The waters of Kosasthalaiyar river and the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal now resemble a death trap, as layers of crude oil coat the surface, washing hundreds of dead fish on to the shore.

Related: Ennore oil spill: Chennai’s fishermen now dealing with a new crisis

Pollution due to oil spill

The extent of pollution is so severe that, as per the Indian Coast Guard, the oil spill has spanned about 20 sq km, extending at sea from the Kosasthalaiyar river mouth till Kasimedu Harbour.

The environmental impact of the oil spill is so severe that the fishermen predict depletion of catch for the next six months. While small quantities of oil spillage has always been noticed at these fishing hamlets every monsoon, this is the second severe incident of oil spill after the one in 2017.

Oil spills, if not contained immediately, will have a harsh effect on the biodiversity. As per a report by Suzhal Arivom, an environmental organisation, the leak will destroy the seaweed, which is home to marine life.

Oil destroys the water repellent ability of shore birds’ feathers, thus exposing them to harsh elements. “We witnessed several plants, fishes, and a few birds impacted by this oil spill in our short field visit. Without the ability to repel water and insulate from the cold water, birds and mammals will die from hypothermia,” the report stated.

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No adequate progress: TNPCB

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 also have 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.

TN govt forms a technical team

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 ensuring 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 and to families adversely hit by oil spill 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.

The matter has been posted to 14 December.

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Mitigation efforts

District collectors of Chennai and Tiruvallur, the Fisheries Department, and the Environmental Department are involved to ascertain the loss for fishermen and the biodiversity.

Agencies specialising in such oil spillage management were mobilised from Chennai and Ennore ports. “These agencies have planned to deploy oil barriers and specialised machinery like gully suckers to absorb excess oil,” a press release from the state government said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena, on 10 December, inspected North Chennai, where an oil spill over the Kosasthalaiyar river was noticed.

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal constituted a high-level committee on 9 December and directed it to take necessary measures to prevent the further spread of oil spill and “recover the oil floating on the water surface.”

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday reviewed the oil spillage mitigation works in north Chennai, with the Ennore Creek area suffering from “significant” oil deposits.

An Expert Committee had made extensive field visits and concluded that oil spillage had happened from the premises of CPCL entering into Buckingham Canal from Guard ponds and Storm Water Drain ponds finally reaching Ennore Creek.

(With PTI inputs)