Ennore, which is already struggling with the oil spill caused by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), now faces the ammonia gas leak by Coromandel International Limited.
The leak occurred on December 26 around 11.45pm and the people of nearby villages started sensing the pungent smell of ammonia along with the burning sensation in eyes & body, suffocation, vomiting, fainting and coughing. Later the residence of villages rushed out from their home and many people admitted in hospitals some people in intensive care unit due to shortness of breath.
How ammonia got leaked?
The Coromandel International Limited is a fertiliser manufacturing company owned by Murugappa Group. It produces around 4 lakh tonnes/annum of Ammonium Phosphate Potash Sulphate (APPS) for which ammonia is one of the raw materials. Ammonia is leaked from one of the plants of the company as the pressure in the pipeline on the sea bed is dropped.
Pollution control board sent a notice
The Pollution control board issued a notice to the company under Provision of water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974 and air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981. The board also said that,”A moderate ammonia gas leak occurred at the Coromandel International Limited plant in Ennore. Due to this leak people of Chinnakuppam and Periyakuppam villages have felt the ammonia leak around 4.30am.” The Coromendal International Limited explained that they have identified the location of the gas leak and it will be repaired within a day.
NGT take suo-motu
The National Green Tribunal came forward and filed a suo-motu cognisance and asked Thamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to submit a report on this tragic incident.
Meanwhile people living in those areas which are contaminated with chemical gas started evacuating their home in droves and started moving to other areas.
