Fishermen oppose CPCL oil pipeline

Chennai:

The proposed 17km long crude oil pipeline of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited from Chennai Port to Manali refinery faced stiff opposition from fishermen during a public hearing conducted on Tuesday.

The public hearing, which was chaired by Thiruvallur district collector Asish Chaterjee and convened by district environmental engineer M Paneerselvam, was attended by nearly 1,500 to 2,000 people, according to official sources. The earlier public hearing on the issue was held last month faced similar dissent.

Lack of adequate safety mechanisms, threat to livelihood, fear of displacement and possible pollution to ground water table were some of the main reasons attributed by fishermen association while opposing CPCL’s proposal to replace the 30 inch diameter pipeline with 42 inch diameter crude oil pipeline which will be laid at the depth of five feet along the berm of Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project which is being developed by National Highway Authority of India. 

The meeting began on a stormy note with associations waving placards to show their opposition to the project as the leaders voiced their grievances.

J Kosumani, president of Tamil Nadu Meenavar Makkal Sangam alleged that in spite of memorandum of understanding signed between CPCL and Chennai Port on May 20, 2003, the government authorities have not yet issued environmental clearance. He expressed the fear that the pipeline will be vulnerable during tsunami. He also alleged that CPCL lacks disaster management in case of any eventuality arising out of leak from the oil pipeline.

M D Thayalan of Indian Fisherman Association said that the pipeline will shrink the fishing settlement and could also result in hampering fishermen’s access to sea due to high security to ensure safety of the pipeline. “We as fishermen oppose the project,” he said.

Nallathanir Odai Kuppam president P Rajamani felt that the project will affect the livelihood of fishermen. “We fear displacement and oppose the scheme tooth and nail. The project will also affect the ground water table,” he says.

Fishermen also wondered why the existing 7km pipeline is  now extended to 17 km from Manali refinery to Chennai Port when it could be directed through Ennore port which is near Manali.