Oil leak: Green panel summons petroleum ministry officials

CHENNAI: Taking serious note of the groundwater contamination in Tondiarpet in north Chennai due to oil leakage from pipelines, the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed senior officials in the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas to be present before it on August 2 to explain the steps taken to rectify the problem.
The bench, comprising P Jyothimani and technical member R Nagendran, was passing an interim order while admitting a petition filed by V P Krishnamoorthy of Old Washermenpet.The petitioner wanted the pipelines that had developed leaks to be shifted to a location away from human habitation. The leakage from the pipelines, operated by IndianOil Corporation Limited, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, posed a threat to residents, he said.
“The officials will have to be present with records to show steps taken to rectify the problem,” the bench said and directed the TN Pollution Control Board to inform it about the steps taken.
The petition said oil leaks in the area had become common and wanted the tribunal to initiate appropriate proceedings under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1981 against companies which should be directed to pay compensation for restoration and damage caused. At least nine of the 11 water samples from the affected areas revealed a high concentration of oil, the petition said.
Advocate A Yogeshwaran, appearing for the petitioner, said the Union ministry of environment and forests should evolve a system to monitor oil and petroleum pipelines to prevent and detect leaks.