Lubricant being disposed on land close to canal: Residents

“Earlier, this the place was used as an agricultural land and a few years ago it was approved for industrial development. Last week, we saw lubricant poured in that area. We suspect that corporate and vessel manufacturing companies poured it there. Whenever we complain to the TNPCB officials about this, they ask us to approach the local body, but has been no response from the officials either,” said Pughalvendhan V,a resident.

The stagnant oil in the water has killed many plants and trees and is destroying the vegetation, alleged locals. They claimed that the institutions inside Thirumudivakkam industrial estate could be responsible for this.

“The industries are approved by TNPCB and local bodies, but when there a complaint, the officials refuse to receive the complaint. If disposing of the oil continues, there would be many health issues for the residents in the future,” another resident KarunakaranM said.

When contacted, a senior official at TNPCB said that the complaints should be raised to the local body, and if they have not acted on it, then TNPCB would take steps.

Speaking to DT Next, a Thirumudivakkam municipality official said, “We have not received any complaint regarding this issue from the public. If it is true, we will give a warning and if they persist, legal action will be taken against the industries.”