Govt-run petrochemical firm CPCL responsible for Chennai oil spill: Committee

A massive oil spill in Chennai, southern India—which originated from the land, flowed to the adjoining waters and spread almost 20 square kilometres in the sea—has been traced to the premises of the Indian government-run firm Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), a government committee has revealed.

This revelation comes after the Tamil Nadu government's State Oil Spill Crisis Management Group (SOS-CMG) convened a meeting in Chennai, involving all major stakeholders. According to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Broad, theyobserved inadequate stormwater management at the CPCL premises.

"The expert committee (comprising members from the State and Central Pollution Control Board, Indian Coast Guard and academia) 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," said the Tamil Nadu government, following a meeting led by its Chief Secretary, the top bureaucrat.

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The oil spill adversely impacted the people living in the nearby fishing villages, boats were seen coated with oil and the personal belongings of residents were damaged. In this regard, the State Government said that the CPCL was directed to deploy mitigation efforts with the necessary men and machineryto complete the cleanup task at the earliest. The SOS-CMG would continue to monitor the progress of this work daily, till the time it is completed, said the TN government.

Holding CPCL responsible for the oil spill disaster, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board issued directions to the firm under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The TNPCB also asked the firm to assess the oil spillage in adjoining water bodies and take remedial measures, ensure that all tanks and pipelines are intact with no leakage, carry out a Leak Detection and Repair Study (LDAR) with the help of experts, and ensure that no such occurrence happens in future.

Last week, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), which supplies fuels such as LPG, Petrol, Aviation Fuel and Diesel to Tamil Nadu, denied any pipeline leak at their refinery in Manali, north Chennai. In a social media post, the firm added that other industries of Manali were also badly affected due to Cyclone Michaung.

"Despite the flood situation in and around the refinery, the CPCL team rose to the occasion and ensured uninterrupted safe operation of the refinery and supply of fuels to the state of Tamil Nadu," it said.

The firm also added that ithad deployed absorbent pad, gully suckers to remove oil traces from the canal and that medical camps were organized in the affected locality, Ernavur, where people had reported symptoms such as cough, cold and fever.

The State PCB also warned the Government-run firm that their operations are liable to be suspended if they are found to discharge oil containing water or polluted water, against the legally set norms for industries. The firm was also told that it is liable to pay compensation for environmental damages and compensation for the affected families. The North Chennai region, where this oil spill has occurred, is a hub of petrochemical industries and is also an eco-sensitive zone.

According to the Indian Coast Guard, the marine oil spill has been reduced to an insignificant one, after they undertook multiple helicopter sorties over the last few days to spray Oil Spill Dispersants (OSD), a special chemical that breaks down the oil and ensures its degradation, thereby minimising damage to marine life and environment.