The state government has roped in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to rapidly assess the quantum of oil spillage in the Ennore Creek area caused by the floods in the aftermath of cyclonic storm Michaung.
As per the officials, the experts from the IIT Madras have started the work and they will be using the latest technology such as drones to assess the work.
“Their report is expected tomorrow. The mitigation work is in full swing in the Ennore Creek area and affected villages,” a statement from the government noted on Thursday.
Meanwhile, an expert team from Paradeep (Odisha) is expected to visit the area on Friday to analyse the situation and provide suggestions.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) had issued directions to the Chennai Petro Chemical Limited (CPCL) following oil spillage into Buckingham Canal and Ennore Creek in Chennai during the floods.
The board in its order on Monday asked CPCL to identify hotspots in Buckingham Canal, Ennore Creek and adjoining areas in Chennai where the oil deposits or slick are stagnated and take remedial measures on a war footing.
The government noted that an oil boom (a temporary barrier to contain the spill) has been installed to an extent of 1,000 metre to contain the spread of oil, and five gully suckers to suck the oil from the water surface.
“In order to speed up the mitigation work, 103 boats and about 400 personnel have been pressed into service,” said an officer.
As per the officials, around 100 people are pressed into service for cleaning and scrubbing around Nettu Kuppam and Ennore villages.
CPCL has been directed to further ramp up the mitigation work by deployment of more oil boomers, skimmers and trained manpower.
“Till date around 40 metric tonnes of sludge has been removed and taken to the CPCL premises for safe disposal. Around 36,800 litres of oil mixed with water has been recovered,” the statement added.
The health department and the animal husbandry department are continuing with the special camps to take care of villagers and animals respectively.
As far as the teams deployed on the ground are concerned, officials from the forest department, TNPCB and department of environment have been positioned on ground to monitor the works.
Seven more IFS officers have been deployed especially to supervise work.
Climate activist G Sundararajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal blamed the CPCL for the Ennore oil disaster. He wrote on X that as per the “polluter pays” principle, apart from removing the oil spills, the government should evaluate the extent of loss of livelihood, and health hazards the residents sustained and make CPCL bear those expenses.
Another climate activist Nithyanand Jayaraman Thursday alleged that the Ennore oil spill response is turning into an occupational health disaster. He posted on X an image of the workers involved in the oil cleaning process being provided with food packets on their bare hands filled with oil waste.
“Not the way to handle hazwaste. Lack of protocol & preparedness exposing workers to toxic & physical hazards. Wrong masks, no coveralls, no protocol. Dangerous ad-hocism,” he tweeted.
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