Cuddalore, 29 December, 2006: Two supporters from the Seattle and Bay Area chapters of Association for India’s Development in the United States joined SIPCOT monitors on a two-hour long pollution patrol to see first-hand the environmental conditions in SIPCOT, Cuddalore. Vani and Sudarshan Suresh, who visited SIPCOT and neighbouring villages, said they were appalled that more than 30,000 people live under such oppressive environmental circumstances, where even breathing was a challenge owing to the air pollution. Despite the low-intensity of odours, all monitors and the two visitors complained of headache, and eyes and throat irritation at the end of the patrol. The mountain of hazardous wastes that is stored illegally by Victory Chemicals on the banks of the River Uppanar was blowing dust in surrounding areas. Loyal Super Fabrics, the company responsible for a major fire a few months ago, has now restarted. According to residents, soot pollution from the company’s has increased over the days.
Read the complete report here:
Date: 29 December 2006
Time: 12:15 pm to 2:00 pm
|
S No. |
Name of the company |
Time |
Wind Direction |
Location of the monitors |
Odour |
Rank |
Health effects |
Other observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Tamilnadu Pigments |
12:20 pm |
N to S |
Thaikal road outside the unit gate |
— |
— |
— |
There was blue colour powder all over the unit, on the floor, factory walls and compound walls.
|
|
2. |
Victory Chemicals |
12:30 pm |
N to S |
4th Cross road on the western side of the company
|
Burning material odour |
7 |
Throat irritation, headache and suffocation |
Huge piles of hazardous waste were stored within the premises and covered with plastic sheets. The dust from the waste was being blown away by the wind and was spreading in the neighboring areas. People in the vicinity complained about cough, throat and eye irritation.
|
|
3. |
CUSECS 6 |
12:40 pm |
N to S |
Northern as well as the southern side of the unit.
|
Public toilet odour |
4 |
Vomiting |
The wind was steady and the dust from Victory Chemicals reached all the way to CUSECS 6 and the Rasapettai Thonithurai causing cough and eye irritation to the commuters.
|
|
4. |
Shasun Chemicals |
1:05 pm |
N to S |
Southern side of the unit opposite the SIPCOT water tank |
Radish and fruity odour |
6 |
Headache |
— |
|
5. |
Loyal Super Fabrics |
1:10 pm |
N to S |
Opposite CUSECS 5 in the south side of the unit
|
Cloth boiling odour |
3 |
Eye irritation |
Presence of fine dust in the vicinity of the plant. Not visible, but one can feel it on the skin. |
|
6. |
CUSECS 5 |
1:11 pm |
N to S |
Outside the gate of the unit
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
7. |
GSR Chemicals |
1:15 pm |
N to S |
South West of the unit
|
Acid odour |
4 |
Skin itching |
— |
|
8. |
Tantech Chemicals |
1:20 pm |
N to S |
Southern side of the unit on the Eachangadu village road
|
Mosquito Coil odour |
7 |
Headache , giddiness |
— |
|
9. |
SPIC Pharma |
1: 25 pm |
N to S |
Service road outside the unit |
Public toilet odour |
5 |
Vomiting, headache |
Digital display board was not working |
|
10. |
Chemplast project site |
2:15 pm |
N to S |
ECR road |
— |
— |
— |
Constructions ongoing. |