Cuddalore, 22 October 2008: Tantech Agro Chemicals is back at its act of poisoning the SIPCOT Area while the TNPCB is mutely watching from the sidelines. Tantech’s closure order was revoked on October 4 this year on the condition that it should ensure that all the consent conditions are implemented by 2nd December 2008 and that the community should not have any complaints against the unit. SACEM and community members have so far already reported at lest 10 complaints between last mid October till now of serious odour from the unit but have failed to get the TNPCB into action. Even though it is clearly stated in the revocation order that action would be taken in case the community reports gas leaks from the unit, the TNPCB has decided to keep quiet and let the unit operate.
The manner in which the revocation oder was granted within just 15 days of the closure had raised serious doubts in the minds of the SIPCOT residents about the seriousness of TNPCB in ensuring strict implementation of norms by the unit. And now with TNPCB’s reluctance to take action despite so many complaints confirms community’s belief that the pollution control authorities are completely dysfunctional and ineffective in the SIPCOT region.