cuddalore online information

Permission to Chemplast for VCM Pipeline across Uppanar Cancelled -SACEM

The Public Works Department (PWD) has cancelled the permission granted to Chemplast Sanmar’s PVC Plant at SIPCOT Cuddalore for laying a pipeline to convey Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) across Uppanar River. The permission was cancelled in March 2008 after the department learnt that VCM was a toxic chemical capable of causing environmental pollution and health hazards to the people in the vicinity full story>>

Kanimozhi makes surprise visit to industrial units - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

She supervised the arrangements for DMK women’s wing conference

Kanimozhi,M.P. inspecting the venue for DMK women wing’s conference scheduled for next month, in Cuddalore on Monday.

CUDDALORE: Kanimozhi, MP, made a surprise visit to the SIPCOT Industrial Estate on Monday, following complaints of pollution hazards posed by certain chemical units there.

Health Minister M.R.K.Panneerselvam, District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, Superintendent of Police Pradip Kumar, District Environmental Engineer Ramasubbu, and D.Ravikumar,G.Aiyappan and Saba.Rajendran, MLAs, accompanied her.

She arrived here in the morning to discuss the arrangements to be made for the women’s wing conference of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam scheduled at the Manjakuppam grounds next month. Mr. Ravikumar met her and informed her of the gravity of the pollution problem posed by the SIPCOT units.

He cited the findings of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) that conducted a study from June 26 to 30, 2006 at the instance of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

Mr. Ravikumar told the MP that though the NEERI submitted its report to the TNPCB in August 2007 it was kept under wraps till the local community environment monitoring group obtained the copy through invoking the Right to Information Act.

The study revealed that of the 94 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in the air-samples collected from the SIPCOT area 15 fell in the category of hazardous air pollutants.

Some VOCs were toxic, having both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazards.

After the inspection, Ms Kanimozhi told the reporters that there seemed to be slackness in implementing the pollution control norms and in certain cases the standards were yet to be fixed.

She promised to take up the issue in Parliament.

The Collector directed the TNPCB to take appropriate measures in this regard.

As for the women’s conference, Ms. Kanimozhi said it would be another mega event of the DMK and would also create an upsurge among women.

For the welfare of women, the State budget had made many provisions, she added.

Related articles:

1000 Bhopals Photo Exhibition Launched by Kanimozhi

Renowned Tamil poetess Kanimozhi inaugurates 1000 Bhopals photo exhibition

Bhopal gas tragedy needs no introduction. Justice is denied to the victims even three years after the tragedy. Indian government shows keen interest in developing Dow’s business in India, instead to bring it to trial. Victims took a Padayatra from Bhopal to Delhi early in 2006. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed to meet the padyatris after a long hunger strike. Then he promised safer drinking water and funds to address all health issues related to contamination. Promise was not kept. Now the victims took another Padayatra and reached Delhi on 28th March. Injustice to Bhopal people is the best example on how governments behaves - completely ignoring people to satisfy the interests of corporates. Cuddalore is another example. Instead to shutting the industries which pollutes the air and makes the land and water unusable, government is promoting more such industries. These notorious chemical factories in SIPCOT Cuddalore don’t follow safety norms, quiet often leading to accidents. An accident of Bhopal scale is yet to happen. If happens we will face the same injustice faced by Bhopal victims today.

contributed by Ravi Raja, a regular reader of the blog.

Every Monday and Friday while traveling to and from Chidambaram, just to the south of Cuddalore OT, one has to pass a 3 km stretch which stinks as bad, if not worse than the bad smell one has to experience while passing the Cooum River in Chennai. But this smell is different. A combination of chemical vapors and the smell emanating from the chemical disposals from a bunch of factories along the Cuddalore-Chidambaram highway is simply unbearable. It makes one feel giddy and pass out. The most disturbing factor was the situation never changed for years. I do hear from people that it has changed a bit and that it is better now. Whatever is is the air might have been cleared. But what lies beneath the surface is more alarming and worrisome.

A recent report from the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute states that, “People living in and around a special economic zone in Cuddalore are “2,000 times more” likely to be affected by cancer than the normal population”. Now this is something that cannot be taken lightly. A few alarming statistics in the report are:

• Levels of Benzene - a chemical that causes blood cancer among children - were 125 times higher than safe levels.
• Carcinogens like chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride and trichloroethylene were 881, 553, 32.5 and 21.8 times respectively higher than acceptable levels.

These numbers are very disturbing not to mention the fact that the NEERI states that the results are a “conservative estimate” as “most of the industries are not operating to capacity on days of sampling”.

Just look at the level of benzene. Benzene is a harmful chemical to inhale. Prolonged exposure (more than 1 year) will result in a reduction in the number of Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and the clotting cells (Source: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/benzene/health_ben.html)

Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours: Vomiting, Irritation of the stomach, Dizziness, Sleepiness, Convulsions, Rapid or irregular heartbeat, Death (at very high levels) (Source: CDC).

Exposure to Chloroform may cause liver cancer. Carbon tetrachloride may cause liver and kidney malfunction and in some cases even death. Methylene chloride is known to cause lung, liver and pancreatic cancer. Trichloroethylene is carcinogenic as well.

What should be done?

• The extent of damage done should be studied.
• A water test on a number of samples from areas in and around the SIPCOT area should be done and people have to be educated on the results.
• Testing should also be done on water samples drawn from different places in Cuddalore.

The authorities obviously should initiate legal action on the companies. Human Lives are not a price to pay for development and particularly in this case, when these diseases can be avoided, they should be avoided. As Gandhi once said, “There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed”.

Please do not pay Cuddalore and its’ citizens as a price for flawed development.

Chemical Park increases cancer risk in Cuddalore

March 23rd, 2008
Thaindian News

Chennai, March 23 (IANS) People living in and around a special economic zone in Cuddalore are “2,000 times more” likely to be affected by cancer than the normal population, says a report prepared for the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. In a normal sample population, cancer occurs in one person in a million. But in and around the State Industries Promotion Corp of Tamil Nadu known as SIPCOT industrial park nearly 300 km south of Chennai, two in every thousand are likely to have cancer, say anti-pollution campaigners.

The Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has prepared the report.

The study confirms the decades-old complaints by local residents that pollution from the chemical factories in the park is worst at night, especially in the village of Eachangadu.

The NEERI submitted the report in August 2007 to TNPCB without any public information. It came to light after an RTI plea by the local environment watchdog, Community Environment Monitoring (CEM).

The TNPCB commissioned the NEERI study in response to a 2004 report “Gas Trouble”, released by the SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitors, highlighting the presence of at least 22 toxic gases in the air over SIPCOT.

The study mandated special reference to volatile organic compounds so that the Tamil Nadu government could take remedial action.

Several studies of air pollution around the SIPCOT industrial park found 94 chemicals in the ambient air, including 15 known as hazardous air pollutants.

In September 2004, the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee on Hazardous Wastes directed the TNPCB to bring down pollution levels or shut errant industries in SIPCOT by December that year. Nothing has happened so far.

The NEERI study found that areas near Shasun Chemicals, and the village of Eachangadu, were the worst affected.

Risk levels near Asian Paints and Tagros Chemicals are also high, the report said.

According to the report, children, elderly and the infirm were the most vulnerable. NEERI attributes this to “air transport of pollutants”.

Levels of Benzene - a chemical that causes blood cancer among children - were 125 times higher than safe levels.

Other carcinogens like chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride and trichloroethylene were 881, 553, 32.5 and 21.8 times respectively higher than acceptable levels, the NEERI report said.

NEERI says “the results are a conservative estimate” as “most of the industries are not operating to capacity on days of sampling”.

“If all the industries in the study area function to the full capacity, it may be expected that concentrations of pollutants will increase three-fold,” the institute told TNPCB.

In 2007, SACEM documented nine serious air pollution incidents that injured more than 150 people in the neighbourhood.

“The results confirm our worst fears - that SIPCOT is a gas chamber - and that the government has decided to sacrifice Cuddalore residents to cancer and other avoidable diseases,” Nityanand Jayaraman, advisor to the Community Environmental Monitoring, said.

“The TNPCB has neither the vision nor the political will to regulate pollution,” he added.

Activists point to how for almost a year now, the NEERI report has been lying with the TNPCB, but the government has taken no remedial action.

Instead, “the Tamil Nadu government is setting up more polluting units, many without proper clearances”.

2000 times higher cancer risk for SIPCOT Cuddalore Residents: NEERI

PRESS RELEASE

22 MARCH, 2008. CHENNAI — SIPCOT Cuddalore residents are at least 2000 times more likely to contract cancer in their lifetimes due to their exposure to high levels of toxic gases from chemical industries in the region, according to a scientific report prepared for the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board by Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. The study of air pollution in and around SIPCOT chemical industrial estate found 94 chemicals in the ambient air, including 15 that are known hazardous air pollutants. The study confirms decades-old complaints by local residents that pollution is worst at night, and that areas near Shasun Chemicals, and the village of Eachangadu are the worst affected. Risk levels near Asian Paints and Tagros Chemicals are also high, NEERI reports, adding that children, elderly and the infirm are most vulnerable. The report dated August 2007 was unearthed by Community Environmental Monitoring through the Right to Information Act. Samples were taken for periods varying from 10 minutes to 24 hours from within industries, residential areas in SIPCOT villages, and from Alapakkam, more than 5 km away. Even Alapakkam recorded high exposure levels. NEERI attributes this to air transport of pollutants.

Levels of Benzene – a chemical that causes blood cancer among children – were up to 125 times higher than safe levels, while other carcinogens like chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride and trichloroethylene were upto 881, 553, 32.5 and 21.8 times higher than acceptable levels.

The NEERI study was commissioned in response to the 2004 report “Gas Trouble” released by the SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitors (SACEM) highlighting the presence of at least 22 toxic gases in SIPCOT air. In September 2004, the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee on Hazardous Wastes referred to Gas Trouble and directed the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board to bring down pollution levels or shut errant industries by December 2004. Till date, no concrete action has been taken by the Board, and no industries have been punished. Just in 2007, SACEM documented 9 serious air pollution incidents that injured more than 150 people.

“The results confirm our worst fears – that SIPCOT is a gas chamber – and that the Government has decided to sacrifice Cuddalore residents to cancer and other avoidable diseases,” said Nityanand Jayaraman, advisor to Community Environmental Monitoring. “The TNPCB is a toothless tiger with neither the vision, nor the political will to regulate pollution.”

Rather than address the existing pollution, the Government is setting up more polluting units, many without proper clearances. Chemplast Sanmar, which does not have complete CRZ clearance, has already commenced construction of a PVC plastic manufacturing unit. A water-intensive textile park, several power plants and an oil refinery are also planned in this region.

“Every extra day of delay condemns additional people, particularly children, to a life of agony and ill-health. If the Government is serious about tackling this problem, it should first announce that only non-polluting industries will be promoted in Cuddalore,” said M. Nizamudeen of Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation.

NEERI reports that the results are a conservative estimate as most of the industries were not operating to capacity on the days of sampling. “If all the industries in the study area function to the full capacity, it may be expected that concentrations of pollutants will increase three folds,” NEERI says.

For more information, contact:
Nityanand Jayaraman (Advisor, CEM): 9444082401
M. Nizamudeen (CDCPO): 9443231978
www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Organised by:
SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitors & Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation
No. 72/7 Nethaji Road, Manjakuppam, Cuddalore 607 001

Community Environmental Monitoring (A project of The Other Media).
c/o 42A, 1^st Floor, 5^th Avenue, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600 090

List of Chemicals Detected with Highest Levels Recorded

Other Hazardous Air Pollutants found in SIPCOT air:

1,3-dimethyl benzene
Ethyl Benzene
Tribromometane
Naphthalene
p-xylene
Styrene
Tetrachloroethylene
Toluene
Carbon disulphide

CUSECS leaks once again - SIPCOTCuddalore.com

Cuddalore, February 14, 2008 — Living up to its reputation of being a repeat environmental offender, the common effluent collection and forwarding facility CUSECS sprung a leak near the Thamaraikulam (Lotus Pond) of Karaikadu. The leak occurred within an inspection tank built over CUSECS pipelines. The inspection tank was filled to overflowing with toxic effluents that entered the pond and enclosed the area where a public drinking water tap is located.

The District Environmental Engineer of Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board was available on site. He left after a septic tank cleaning tanker truck pumped in the effluents and carried it to an undisclosed location, and after fresh earth was spread over the flooded area. No clean-up was conducted and no information is available as to where the tanker truck disposed of the effluents. CUSECS officials said the effluents had spilled from an old pipe that is currently not being used full story>>

Shasun Suffers Tummy Upset; Spews Bad Odour, Black Smoke - SIPCOTCuddalore.com

Cuddalore, February 25, 2008 — At 3 p.m. on 24 February, and 4 a.m. on 25 February, SACEM recorded incidents of serious air pollution by Shasun Chemicals. SACEM observers photographed black smoke emanating from Shasun, accompanied by an intense smell of pesticides in the air. Early on 25 February, SACEM monitors also observed black smoke from Tantech and SPIC full story>>

Shasun’s Consignment of Suspected Hazardous Wastes Intercepted; High Drama at Police Station - SACEM

Cuddalore, 23 January 2008: Alert SACEM monitors today intercepted a truck (No TN 41 Q 3772) loaded with more than 50 drums of chemicals at the busy main road of Cuddalore new town at about 6.00 pm. The monitors suspected that the chemicals carried in the truck were hazardous wastes as the drums were old and not labeled and there was a pungent nauseating odour emanating from the drums. They stopped the truck and asked for documents describing the type of waste from the driver. The driver informed them that he was carrying waste oil from Shasun to Polachi and he had no documents. The monitors immediately informed the District Collector highlighting the illegality of the transit and requesting action. The monitors also tried to inform the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board but the officers at the board office informed them that it was a festival day and that they would not attend to the incident.

U.S. NGO to put Cuddalore pollution problem in global limelight
A.V. Ragunathan
The Hindu, 24 September 2007

CUDDALORE: The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmentalists’ group in the U.S., has expressed solidarity with the SIPCOT Area Community Environment Monitoring Committee and the environmentalists in Cuddalore in their combat against pollution.

Voicing concern over the pollution level in the SIPCOT Industrial Estate, the Brigade has proposed to host the Cuddalore problem on its website — www.labucketbrigade.org —to take the message to the international audience.

The Brigade will support the endeavour to check pollution and talk to the industries to keep their emission and effluent levels well within the norms, according to Melanie Lawrence and Holly Witherington, Community Organisers, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, New Orleans, U.S.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, they said that during their two-day stay in Eachankadu, Samiyarpettai and Reddiarpettai, abutting the SIPCOT Industrial Estate here, the effects of pollution made them fell sick. It was in such hazardous conditions the people were living in scores of villages surrounding the industrial estate, even while grappling with the devastations wrought by the tsunami.

She cautioned against locating pollution-causing industries, including oil refineries (one is slated to come up in Cuddalore), in coastal areas, when there was apprehension over the global warming triggering more of disasters.

Citing the post-Katrina scenario, she said a refinery in New Orleans spilled several million litres of oil, causing chaos and making the place unfit for living. This had happened despite the enactment of a plethora of laws and regulations.

About nuclear power, Ms. Lawrence said the movement against nuclear power stations in the U.S. was quite strong.

The Brigade was of the firm view that it was difficult to get rid of the nuclear waste.

For up-to-date news on SIPCOT Pollution visit www.sipcotcuddalore.com

Cuddalore Power Company (CPC) is one such industry that is planned to be set up at SPICOT. But unlike for other projects, the power project faces an unprecedented opposition from the people of SIPCOT region. Government is attempting to forcibly acquire land from the villagers. If the power company is setup thousands of people will lose their land and their livelihood.

There are reasons for all the people in Cuddalore to worry about. The planned location of the company is not far from the Cuddalore town. Once the power company starts to operate in full swing, it will emit 2,500 tonnes of fly ash a day and a huge amount of hot water will discharged into sea. Means, fly ash will add to the already polluted air and hot water discharged will make the sea in the region unfit for marine life. This will have a severe impact on fishing industry in Cuddalore.

As mentioned, CPC is just one among the polluting industry that is to come up. Apart from this, an oil refinery, a PVC plant(work has already started) and a huge textile processing plant are to come up. Environment protection organisations are doing their best to stop industries from coming up. All their effort go in vain because of lack of support from people of Cuddalore.

At this point people of Cuddalore have two choices. One, support the NGOs to keep the polluting industries out. Two, move out of Cuddalore for a safer living.

Take action now !

Related links:

Farmers seek White Paper on power project-The Hindu

Villagers unanimously reject power project: AIADMK team-The Hindu

Clear apprehensions over private power project: VCK-The Hindu

For up to date news on developments in SIPCOT, visit www.spicotcuddalore.com