Sterlite acid leak triggers tension
CHENNAI : The Thoothukudi district administration and Sterlite Copper allayed fears of a major acid leak at the latter’s controversial copper factory in Thoothukudi and also denied there was an accompanying gas leak after rumours of both swept through the coastal Tamil Nadu city on Sunday night.
Some reports suggested that close to 50,000 litres of sulphuric acid had leaked although the district administration and the company said it was only a “minor leak”. Hindustan Times could not independently ascertain the quantum of the leak.
Starting in the 1990s, Thoothukodi has seen protests against Sterlite for polluting groundwater and air by releasing acid and hazardous wastes.
The protests took a violent turn on May 22, when police opened fire, killing 13 people leaving dozens of people injured.
After the resulting outcry the Tamil Nadu government ordered the closure of the plant.
Thoothukudi district collector Sandeep Nanduri told reporters: “The process of arresting sulphuric acid leakage from a storage tank at the smelter plant has begun. To ensure public safety, all safety protocols are being rigorously followed.”
Nanduri added that staff from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Fire Safety and Rescue Department, and the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu are monitoring the situation.
“It was observed during police surveillance that sulphuric acid storage tank located in the plant has leaked. We requested, the local administration to allow the company to attend (to the leak) and take appropriate action to prevent any mishap,” a statement from Sterlite Industries said.
The company also used the opportunity to seek access to the plant so as to prevent such incidents in the absence of “regular maintenance”.
“We are assisting the local administration to handle the situation and have offered all support to keep a vigil on the plant and its surroundings. Sterlite has requested the state government to provide limited manpower access and minimal power supply,” it added.