India Today’s Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team is currently conducting an in-depth analysis to assess the magnitude of the oil spill in Chennai after the recent floods that wreaked havoc on the region. While significant portions of Chennai have successfully mitigated the issue of waterlogging more than a week after the catastrophic floods, certain localities are grappling with a more formidable and intricate challenge – a crude oil spill, which poses a persistent concern for both authorities and residents.
The alleged leakage of a substantial volume of oil from the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (CPCL) refinery in Manali during the floods induced by Cyclone Michaung last week has exacerbated the situation. Official evaluations indicate that the oil spill has currently permeated an expansive 20-square-kilometer area, prompting ongoing efforts to mitigate and rectify the environmental impact.
Utilizing satellite imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel Program, India Today’s OSINT team has meticulously documented the oil spill's extensive reach, illustrating its flow through Ennore Creek into the Bay of Bengal. Employing the Oil Spill Index (OSI) script of the Sentinel-2 satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA), a customized visualization has been developed to offer a comprehensive overview.
The oil, amalgamated with floodwaters in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung on December 4, disseminated into the sea through various water bodies, causing severe repercussions in neighborhoods such as Eranavur, Adi Dravidar Colony, and Thiruveethiamman Kovil. Fishing hamlets in Ennore and its environs have borne the brunt of the oil spill, exacerbating the environmental crisis.
Initially attributed to the CPCL by the local fishing community, the company, a subsidiary of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOL), has vehemently denied any pipeline leaks at its Manali refinery. Subsequent investigations by the Tamil Nadu government's State Oil Spill Crisis Management Group (SOS-CMG) have pinpointed the CPCL premises as the source, identifying guard ponds and stormwater drain ponds that empty into the Buckingham Canal.
According to Raj Bhagat, an urban development expert based in Tamil Nadu, the oil permeated from the CPCL plant into the floodwaters, ultimately reaching the Buckingham Canal and a tributary of the Kosasthailyar River, thus contaminating areas downstream on their way to the Ennore Creek.
This chemical hazard has not only led to the demise of aquatic life in the Kosasthalaiyar River and Ennore Creek but has also caused substantial damage to fishing boats and equipment, severely impacting the livelihoods of the local fishing community. Residents in the affected areas have reported enduring a persistent and noxious odor, coupled with physical symptoms such as eye irritation, dizziness, and skin itching. Particularly vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly in Ennore have experienced respiratory issues due to the foul smell.
The government of Tamil Nadu, collaborating with the Indian Coast Guard, has assumed a proactive role in addressing the crisis. Helicopter sorties have been deployed to disperse Oil Spill Dispersants (OSD) over the affected area, and compensation is being extended to families affected by the disaster. Gully sucker machines have been deployed in the Ennore Creek area to remove the floating oil, which will be safely disposed of at a designated location in Gummudipoondi licensed for storing hazardous waste. Additionally, oil-controlling booms have been strategically placed to contain the oil, and specialized oil-cleaning agencies are actively involved in the remediation efforts.
This unfortunate incident in Ennore echoes a similar occurrence in 2017, following a collision between two ships, highlighting the region's vulnerability as a hub of petrochemical industries and an eco-sensitive zone.
