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This is an archive article published on December 26, 2023

Chennai might face another flood, Rs 500 crore relief needed for Ennore victims: Anbumani Ramadoss

The PMK leader said he could not accept the Rs 8.68 crore relief the government had announced.

Anbumani RamadossPattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. (File Photo)

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss Tuesday visited Ennore following the oil spill that took place due to flooding triggered by Cyclone Michaung and noted that the people are not clear whether this was a crude oil leak or some chemical leak as there are so many factories situated alongside these areas.

“The oil leak in the Ennore area will seriously impact the environment for the next two to three years. It will affect not just humans but also cattle and fish species. The government did not act swiftly; there is a lot of technology in the world to remove this oil spill, the government should have deployed them. Further, in these kinds of disasters, the government should have anticipated the oil spill, and a committee should have been constituted to address this. However, till now, no such thing has happened. They are saying that they have cleared the oil spill but we cannot accept that,” Ramadoss said.

On behalf of Pasumai Thayagam, an environmental organisation founded by PMK, a special medical camp was held at Ennore. Anbumani himself checked a couple of patients and offered them medical advice. Anbuamani said the residents have been complaining about having difficulty breathing, feeling skin burning, etc.

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“These oil spillages and other disasters due to climate change will occur often in the upcoming period. In 2015, Chennai witnessed a massive flooding. After that, we produced a documentary, ‘Naam Virumbum Chennai’ (The Chennai we love), where we noted the floods could happen again in the next ten years, and it came within eight years. I am saying this now: the next few years are going to be challenging. Chennai might face another flood in the next five years, and the government should stay prepared for it,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) stated that its technical team submitted a report ascertaining that the cause of oil spillage into the Buckingham Canal reaching the Ennore Creek area happened from the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) refinery. Ramadoss noted that the government should form a special committee under a retired judge or let CBI take the case and conduct an enquiry to find out whether this was an oil leak or some chemical leak as this is a severe issue as they have seen in the past of factories discharging unpurified waste during floods.

The PMK leader noted that they could not accept the Rs 8.68 crore relief the government had announced for the families affected by the oil spill and demanded the government to provide a minimum of Rs 500 crore.

“The relief the government has provided now to the affected families in Ennore is a mockery. A great disaster had occurred, and the government is providing Rs 7,500 for affected families. In which period are we living? Each family should be provided at least Rs 10 lakh. The Chief Minister should visit this place, Ennore needs a special approach,” Ramadoss said.

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“We cannot prevent super cyclones, super floods, but we can prevent the damages it can cause if we have proper planning,” he said, adding they would not hesitate to stage a protest if required over their demands.

After the state government held the CPCL responsible for the incident, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a statement saying that due to unprecedented flooding in the city, the water level in the Buckingham Canal increased, causing reverse flow, and this appears to have carried some oil not just from CPCL refinery as well as from other industrial units in Manali into Buckingham when the flood levels receded.

“There has been no pipeline leak or leakage from tanks in the refinery, and the refinery is under operation,” the statement added.

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