After the destruction caused by Cyclone Michaung on December 4, many parts of Chennai, in southern India, have returned to normal. Many people in north Chennai are still in mourning for their departed loved ones. The petrochemical, fertilizer, and power plant industries are centered in this region.
These tears come from an oil leak that spread across their community along with the rushing floodwaters, not from the destruction caused by the five-foot floodwater. As the floodwaters subside, the primary concern is still the dense, foul-smelling oil slick that covers the walls, doors, roadways, and interiors of their homes. However, one thing that has made this time around’s recovery from the damage caused far more difficult is the impact of the oil leak. The residential neighborhoods of Ernavur were not an exception as the majority of Chennai was submerged by water on Monday, December 4. But when chemicals and oil combined with the floodwaters found their way into their neighborhood, they were taken by surprise.
How did the oil spill occur during the Michaung cyclone?
The state-run Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) refinery in Chennai’s Manali is said to have lost a significant amount of oil during last week’s floods brought on by Cyclone Michaung’s intense rains. The official evaluation is that the oil leak presently covers 20 square kilometers. Its removal is currently under progress. India accessed satellite imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel Program. Large sections of the oil leak are visible to the Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team today, drifting across Ennore Creek and into the Bay of Bengal. Using the Oil Spill Index (OSI) algorithm from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sentinel-2 satellite, we produced a unique graphic.
The oil spill that occurred after Cyclone Michaung on December 4th, mixed with floodwaters and spread into the sea through water bodies. The neighborhoods of Eranavur, Adi Dravidar Colony, and Thiruveethiamman Kovil were severely affected, with fishing hamlets in Ennore and the surrounding areas being the worst affected.
How did it impact the lives of individuals and animals?
In addition to losing paperwork and computer equipment, residents are spending days scrubbing oil stains out of their houses. Thousands of fisherman have also been prevented from going fishing even after the rains stopped since oil has a strong smell for fish. The Kosasthalaiyar River has hundreds of dead fish, prawns, and crabs as a result of oil combining with floodwater on December 4 and 5. For the people of adjacent villages and the town of Ennore, which is 25 km away, this is a new issue. Their lives were ruined by an oil spill from a neighboring refinery that was allegedly allowed to enter the floodwaters, which now covered an area of around 20 square kilometers.
On top of feeling as though they are being smothered by the oil’s stench, residents of Ernavur, Adi Dravidar Colony, Thiruveethiamman Kovil, and fishing villages have been complaining about a number of health problems since last week’s oil leak. They claim that the refinery near Manali, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), is the guilty party since it allegedly spilled oil into the floodwaters.
Was the government supporting the individuals?
M K Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has declared on 23 Dec, Rs 6,000 in help for Cyclone Michaung’s victims. Cash will be used to cover the cost. Additinaly, Cash assistance ranging from ₹ 7,500 to ₹ 12,500 to 9,001 households impacted by the oil leak in north Chennai districts was issued by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday. Additionally, MK Stalin gave the go-ahead for authorities to provide each of the 787 impacted vessels ₹ 10,000.
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However, TVS Motor and Ashok Leyland have donated Rs 3 crore to the relief and humanitarian aid fund for flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu. Sudarshan Venu, managing director of TVS Motor, expressed his support for the community, stating that it will help restore normalcy. Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group’s flagship, also contributed Rs 1 crore to relief operations. Shenu Agarwal, managing director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, praised the Tamil Nadu government’s quick response to the cyclone and the necessary relief measures. Leap Green Energy, Tamil Nadu’s largest renewable energy company, also contributed to the relief operations.
Oil leak circumstances following Cyclone Michaung
Crude oil spill in Thiruveethiamman Kovil, Chennai, has caused significant damage to major parts of the city. The spill, which mixed with floodwaters after Cyclone Michaung, spread into the sea through water bodies, affecting neighborhoods in Eranavur, Adi Dravidar Colony, and surrounding areas. Efforts to remove the spill are underway, with fishing hamlets in Ennore and surrounding areas being the worst affected.
However, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOL)’s subsidiary, CPCL, was initially blamed for a chemical leak at its Manali refinery, causing the death of aquatic life in the Kosasthalaiyar River and Ennore Creek. The leak also damaged fishing boats and equipment, severely impacting the livelihoods of the community. Residents reported persistent odours, physical symptoms, and respiratory issues, particularly among vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly.
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