State’s inaction in removing chromate waste irks people

The factory started by the state in 1975 to manufacture chromate for use in the tanning industry, closed its operations in 1997, by which time it had already affected water in 20 surrounding lakes. 

Tank irrigation association president S Karunakaran said, “The water in the area is yellow in colour and if consumed leads to nearly 25 health problems, including those which affect the kidney and skin.” A Ramakrishnan of nearby Mukundarayapuram said, “When it rains the waste lying in the old factory compound starts smoking.” 

N Srinivasan of Lalapet added, “We have been petitioning the government for over 17 years demanding action and are told that it is lack of funds, which holds up rehabilitation measures.” It was initially planned in the year 2000 to dump the waste into a plastic lined concrete tank, but the plan was shelved for reasons unknown. 

Then in 2014 experts suggested that the waste be treated and buried on the Chennai beaches, but the idea was given up as the then cost was around Rs 100 crore. Karunakaran, who moved the government through an RTI, was shocked when told that action was being taken. 

However, sources added that though a Canadian company was willing to help, the sharing of costs has hampered operations. District Pollution Control Board officials revealed that the unit was one of the 8 most hazardous units in the country, which needed to be cleaned according to the National Clean Energy Fund.  Estimates to remove the waste were being prepared. However, sharing of costs (35% by the Union government and 65% by the state) was now the issue as the state had to first pay the required amount for work to start, officials added. 

But, the agitated villagers do not plan to wait. They plan to mobilise 100 affected villagers to meet both CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and PM in November.