Pollution board raps oil firm for violation

Pollution board raps oil firm for violation
AKILA DINAKAR

CHENNAI, MARCH 12: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has pulled up M/s Nagarjuna Oil Corporation (formerly M/s Pennar Refineries) located in Cuddalore for going ahead with construction of a petroleum refinery near the coast without environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF).

Responding to a complaint made by M Nizamudeen, Environment Director of the Federation of Consumer Organisations, Tamil Nadu (FEDCOT), TNPCB Member Secretary, S Rangaswamy has written to the Special Officer, Chief Minister's Special Cell. The letter sent late last month refers to the complaint regarding apprehension of marine pollution and damage to fishing activity due to construction of the proposed unit which has started prematurely.

The grouse was that Pennar Refineries had applied for consent of the TNPCB under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 in April 1998 to set up a petroleum refinery for the manufacture of LPG, gasoline, High Speed Diesel, Bitumen, Coke and sulphur as a by-product among others. These products will be manufactured from crude oil at Thiruchopuram, Kayalpattu, Kamalimedu Villages in Cuddalore Taluk with an investment of Rs 2,850 crore in an extent of 490 hectares of coastal land.

The unit estimated a proposed trade effluent generation of 4,000 kilo litres per day and 600 kl of sewage. A full-scale sewage treatment plant and a green belt of 100 hectares were planned after satisfying TNPCB conditions. The treated effluent would be discharged into the sea at a distance of 500 metres.

The Board has observed that the project was one among 29 listed in Schedule I of Environment Impact Assessment notification of January 27, 1994 requiring Central Government's Environmental Clearance. The TNPCB has said that though the MOEF has not issued environmental clearance for the unit, ``it was found that the unit has taken up the works such as construction of approach road, building works for site office and sinking borewells''. The unit was directed in September, 1999 not to take up construction activities except those permitted by MOEF (like fencing and levelling). The TNPCB continues to claim that it is closely monitoring the proposed unit.

At the public hearing held in September, 1998 apprehensions of ground water and marine pollution likely to be caused by the refinery were voiced. The unit's representatives stated that the quantity of groundwater drawal at the site would be minimum and that there would not be any sea water intrusion into land. They assured that recharging would be carried out by utilising the treated sewage and trade effluent for agriculture and green belt development on industry's land. The PHP accepted the project but placed certain conditions.

NOC was issued on October 6, 1998 subject to certain conditions among others prescribed by the PHP. It was clearly stated that `Consent for Establishment' would be issued to the unit only after the unit obtained the environmental clearance.

The Government however remains silent about the activities carried on by the unit even after repeated complaints, says complainant Nizamudden