National Green Tribunal orders high-level committee to submit report on oil spill in Ennore-Manali area

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal has ordered a six-member committee to inspect the areas in Ennore-Manali region where there were oil spills. Hearing a suo motu case on the oil spill in Ernavoor from Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited, the Bench ordered the committee to directly inspect the site on December 11, collect samples of the oil film in the residential area, submit a detailed report on the chemicals found on December 12. Inquiring about the steps taken by the Collector and Revenue Department about the issue, the Bench asked: “Why has the Tamil Nadu government not yet set up an Expert Committee to find out the real situation?” The Bench also asked the counsel appearing for the Central Pollution Control Board: “If the oil companies came to know about this information only after 5 km of oil spillage, what disaster prevention plan did the companies have?” The matter has been adjourned to December 12. Will take action: Minister Meanwhile, Forests Minister M. Mathiventhan in a post on social media platform X said the oil waste from CPCL had mixed into the sea, severely damaging marine resources.