Other flammable liquids also being removed from Sterlite

THOOTHUKUDI: The other flammable substances stored at Sterlite copper industry in Thoothukudi too would be evacuated based on the report of the high level technical committee that thoroughly inspected the factory site, according to Thoothukudi district collector, Mr. Sandeep Nanduri.

Briefing on the ongoing process of the evacuation of sulphuric acid that commenced last Monday, following the reported leakage of the acid from its storage tank, the collector said that so far around 1,500 tonnes of sulphuric acid have been evacuated using 85 acid tanker lorries. 

“A very small quantity is yet to be removed from the storage tank and the process would be completed within another day,” said Mr. Nanduri.

The collector also added that a high level expert committee comprising two retired professors from Anna University and IIT-Madras, district environmental engineer, TNPCB, district fire officer and inspector of factories have already done a thorough study about the status of the other flammable substances like phosphoric acid, LPG and diesel stored at the Sterlite complex.

“We are awaiting the committee’s report based on which we would decide on evacuating those substances too,” Mr. Sandeep Nanduri added.

The sulphuric acid evacuated from the copper smelter plant, however, were reportedly sold to the dying units and the detergent manufacturers in Tirupur, Coimbatore and Salem regions, he added.