Ennore oil spill: Oil trapped inside Chennai’s Ennore Creek area, says Coast Guard

“Traces of oil were also seen in the coastal waters close to Kosathalaiyar river mouth on 10 December,” said the aforementioned release.

The oil spill spread to about 20 square km, which was “light sheen to dark brown” in colour and was estimated to be approximately 10 tonne as per the standard method of spill quantity calculation.

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‘Oil got trapped inside the creek’

“No oil spill was found extending into the sea thereafter as the flood water outflow into the sea through Kosathalaiyar river was less and the oil got trapped inside the creek area which is being responded to by the contractors,” the press release said.

“ICG ships and helicopters have been continuously monitoring the situation, and it is confirmed that there is nil egress of oil slick into the coastal area.”

The Coast Guard has been providing necessary expert advice to the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for the necessary assessment, cleaning and recovery of spilt oil from the Ennore Creek area.

Following heavy rainfall and inundation in Chennai due to cyclone Michaung, oil spills were noticed in the creek and the Buckingham Canal, affecting local people and fishermen.

The spill originated from the north Chennai area, where the CPCL’s refinery is located. Related matters are before the National Green Tribunal’s southern bench in Chennai.

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.

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The bigger picture

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 was a plan, there would have been measures regarding containing contamination of discharges into the river,” said environmentalist Durga Moorthy.

The Kosasthalaiyar river, with the double carrying capacity of 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 properly removed after the erection of towers belonging to The Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited (TANTRANSCO).

(With PTI inputs)