Tamil Nadu Buckingham Canal Oil Spill: NGT Forms High Level Committee, Directs To Take Necessary Measures

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo moto cognizance of the tragedy involving oil spillage on Tamil Nadu's Buckingham Canal.

Taking note of the newspaper report, Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati said, “Even when the matter is being heard, today's newspapers also go to say that there was oil spillage mainly on the banks and it had also reached the nearby residential area viz., Thiruvotriyur.”

The bench constituted a nine-member High-Level Committee to be headed by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government/Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Revenue Administration, Disaster Management, and Mitigation Department, as the chairperson.

As per the report submitted by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), there was some stagnant storm water along with oil, adjoining the storm outlet near the South Gate of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) which had contributed to the oil traces.

The report further states that the unprecedented rainfall in Chennai and surrounding areas resulted in the inundation of industries in the Manali area, including CPCL, NGT noted.

The Water Resources Department (WRD) also filed its report stating that there is a serious threat to the life of the people and the marine organisms, aqua culture by loads of chemical effluents and waste oil spills which are clandestinely discharged into the Buckingham Canal at various places like Nethaji Nagar, IOCL Sadayankuppam and Kattukuppam fishing hamlet at Ennore.

Considering the “health of the residents, and also the flora and fauna and aquatic life”, the bench constituted the nine membered High Level Committee.

It directed the committee to ensure the following as an “immediate action”

(I) Oil spread has to be arrested by taking necessary measures particularly in the water flowing towards the North Gate of the Ennore Creek area where spread of oil has to be arrested by the methods as suggested by the TNPCB.

(II) Between the creek area and the North Gate.

(III) As there is a backwater flow, the Buckingham Canal area alsohas to be addressed immediately to remove the oil.

(IV) Other affected areas.

While directing the committee to meet on December 12, The NGT further directed to

(I) Monitor the above measures for preventing the spread of oil into the creek and the sea.

(II) Recover the oil floating on the water surface.

(III) Ensure that the health of the people in the area is protected.

(IV) The committee shall also get the damage assessment.

The matter is now posted to December 12, for further consideration.

Case Title: Tribunal on its own motion SUO MOTU based on the Visual media titled Chennai Rains ... Oil Companies - Shocking Story - Michaung Ground Report covered by on VIKATAN TV Chennai dt. 06.12.2023.

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