Chennai: Irked over the petroleum pipeline project taken by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) the local residents on Saturday petitioned North Chennai MP G Venkatesh Babu demanding the elected representative to interfere and suspend the project.
According to local residents, the groundwater of the entire north Chennai coast is polluted due to frequent oil leaks from the pipes laid by oil companies. The new pipeline project taken up by CPCL runs to about 17 km from Chennai Port to Manali and there is no clarity on the safety aspects of the project.
Fishermen of more than six fishing hamlets and residents of Nalla Thannee Odai Kuppam, Ramakrishna Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, Bharathiyar Nagar have now jumped into protest alleging that the project would be hazardous to livelihood of fishermen and marine life. Protesters say that various pipeline leakage accidents have led to huge damage to the environment and property.
“The pipeline work was stopped in 2012 after protest from fishermen community, but they have again started work on it. Pipeline leakage in Tondiarpet dates back to early 1980s. We do not want to risk the lives of people again,” said J. Kosumani, president of Meenavar Makkal Munnani Sangam.
“On several occasions, the localities have faced acute shortage of drinking water to the pollution caused by leaked oil. The pipeline will pass through RK Nagar, the constituency represented by former CM Jayalalithaa now lying vacant without an MLA. And we need a strong political support to stop the project”, said civic activist Rama Dasan who resides in R K Nagar.
However, a top CPCL official when contacted said, “we have environmental clearance and will be using the methods that would not harm the environment in any way”.“Any project undertaken by the government is duly discussed and all environmental aspects are taken into consideration. We are ensuring that no mishap of leakages will happen.” It may be noted that CPCL had also obtained no-objection letters from the fisherman's union based in Thiruvottiyur.
