September 30, 2004
Sun network Online News
Chennai – The Madras High Court has issued notices to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, to respond in three weeks to a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Legal Services Authority, in response to a report on the quality of air in SIPCOT industrial estate at Cuddalore.
This follows the publication of a report that the air in the Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), the centre for many chemical manufacturing companies, contained 22 toxic gases, at least 13 of which were raw materials used in the factories there, a release issued by the “Other Media” and Federation of Consumer organizations of Tamil Nadu (FEDCOT), said here today. The petition was filed yesterday.
On Sept 20 last, an NGO “Community Environmental Monitors (CEM), released a report that said villagers in the area, where there were many chemical manufacturing units, were ‘inhaling extremely high levels of at least 22 toxic chemicals.’
SIPCOT-CEM, which released a report called ‘Gas Trouble: Air Quality in SIPCOT, Cuddalore’, said they had tested the air for toxic gases like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and sulphur compounds. “Results of five samples taken outside four chemical related industries only confirmed that the frequent odours experienced by villagers indicated chemical pollution from the factories.”
At least 13 chemicals were used as raw materials in industries in SIPCOT, CEM said.
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