The fishermen are spread across 40 fishing villages in Pazhaverkadu of Tiruvallur district, which is part of north Tamil Nadu.
Published Dec 25, 2023 | 12:49 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 25, 2023 | 12:50 PM
Boats damaged due to oil spill. (Supplied)
Fishermen belonging to 40 fishing villages in the Pazhaverkadu region of Tiruvallur district on Sunday, 24 December, demanded the state government provide them with adequate compensation as they were affected by the oil spillage that originated from north Chennai.
M Jayapaul, a representative of fishermen villages of Pazhaverkadu under Ponneri taluk, said fishermen’s livelihoods were affected due to the oil spillage.
Fishing and revenue authorities held talks with them after they announced that they would take out a march to the state Secretariat, seeking relief, he added.
“We will take a final decision on our plan to take out a rally from Pazhaverkadu to the state Secretariat that was originally scheduled for 26 December,” he told PTI.
The fishermen are spread across 40 fishing villages in Pazhaverkadu of Tiruvallur district in north Tamil Nadu.
Due to Cyclone Michaung (3-4 December)-triggered rains and resultant floods in Chennai, oil spillage surfaced in the Kosasthalai river/the Ennore Creek.
Oil mixed with flood water and it spread further reaching the creek area, affecting fishing villages, coastal neighbourhoods and birds, including pelicans.
The oil spill originated from north Chennai, where the Chennai Petroleum Corporation’s refinery is located.
Following the oil spill and the impact it had on livelihoods, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday, 23 December, announced an allocation of ₹8.68 crore funds.
Stalin ordered cash assistance ranging between ₹7,500 and ₹12,500 to 9,001 families affected by the oil spill in north Chennai areas.
Also, Stalin directed authorities to disburse ₹10,000 as compensation for the 787 affected boats.
An official release said the affected villages were Kattukkuppam, Sivanpadaikuppam, Ennore Kuppam, Mugadwarakuppam, Thazhankuppam, Nettukuppam, VOC Nagar, Ulaganathapuram, and Sathyavanimuthu Nagar.
Against this background, the government announced financial redress and said each of the 2,301 families in such fishing hamlets would be provided ₹12,500 and ₹10,000 shall be disbursed for each of the 787 affected boats and ₹3 crore has been released. The cash assistance to fishers is being credited to their bank accounts.
As regards the 6,700 families in other areas of north Chennai affected by the oil spill and seepage, the government said each family would be provided ₹7,500 assistance and ₹5.02 crore has been earmarked. “The cash assistance will be transferred to their bank accounts.”
In total, 9,001 families in north Chennai affected by the oil spill would be receiving the aid and ₹8.68 crore is the aggregate amount set apart.
The cash aid, in the wake of the oil spill, is over and above the ₹6,000 cash assistance already provided by the government to flood-hit families.
Also, the livelihoods of fishermen were affected as they could not pursue fishing activities.
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.
Each boat is estimated to cost anywhere between ₹1.6-₹2.8 lakh and a fishing net costs ₹20,000-₹40,000.
Additional Chief Secretary (Environment) Supriya Sahu had said in an X post 23 December: “Mangroves restoration work in oil spill areas in Ennore creek has begun. The area is divided into four zones. Low speed sea water jet pipes will clean oil deposits which will be absorbed using soak pads, skimmers and oil booms and safely disposed. Slow and laborious process to clean about 60 hectares of mangroves but we will get there.”
Mangroves restoration work in oil spill areas in Ennore creek has begun. The area is divided into four zones. Low speed sea water jet pipes will clean oil deposits which will be absorbed using soak pads, skimmers and oil booms and safely disposed. Slow and laborious process to… pic.twitter.com/fFWPTkVO8v
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) December 23, 2023
Apart from the oil spill, Southern Tamil Nadu had been grappling with unprecedented floods, due to heavy rains on 17-18 December in the four districts—Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi
The state government has requested for relief funds from the Union government.
During his meeting with Modi on 19 December, Stalin had urged him to release ₹2,000 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund to bolster the efforts for livelihood support and repair of public infrastructure damaged by flooding.
Stalin on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him over the phone in connection with floods in Tamil Nadu and he sought immediate financial support from the Union government.
In a post on X, Stalin said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi called me to inquire about the unprecedented floods in Southern Tamil Nadu, immediately after Cyclone Michaung.”
The chief minister said he explained to the prime minister the state government’s massive rescue and relief efforts despite ‘resource constraints’.
Stalin said he has sought immediate financial support from the Union government. The prime minister has “assured the support of the Union government to overcome these twin calamities.” Also, Modi conveyed to him that he has deputed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to assess the flood situation.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru. @narendramodi called me to inquire about the unprecedented floods in Southern Tamil Nadu, immediately after #CycloneMichaung.
I have explained to him the massive rescue and relief efforts undertaken by the State government, despite resource…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 24, 2023
The Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday held a high-level meeting to take stock of the post-flood situation in Tamil Nadu and deliberated on various measures to support the state. PMO officials interacted with Tamil Nadu government officials to discuss relief and rehabilitation measures in the state.
(With PTI inputs)
