KAMARAJAR PORT & CHENNAI PORT TRUST SHOULD TAKE ONUS FOR CHENNAI OIL SPILL: BJP

BJP Spokesperson Sanju Verma speaking on THE NEWSHOUR, on Chenai’s toxic oil spill, massive clean-up operation off Kamarajar Port, and no authority coming forward to take accountability, said the Central government is not trying to put the blame on the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, and said the Kamarajar Port and the Chennai Port Trust should own up for the oil spill since they have the operational autonomy and the decision making authority.

“Out of the 12 ports in India, the Ennore Port is the only one which is corporatized and comes under the Companies Act. Even the Kamarajar Port head clarified that it has the decision making authority and the Centre has nothing to do with it. I am not trying to shove the blame to the state government. The Kamarajar Port should to take onus. The Chennai Port Trust has 32 per cent stake in the Kamarajar Port. So, it cannot shove the blame to the shipping ministry or the central government. They had the operational autonomy. The Chennai Port Trust should own up. They were caught napping. The Central government is doing what it can,” said Sanju Verma.

On the NEWSHOUR, TIMES NOW’s Navika Kumar Tina Sharma along with panellists – Apsara Reddy, Member, AIADMK; Tanvir Ahmed, Spokesperson JDS; Sanju Verma, Spokesperson, BJP; Vimlendu Jha, Environmentalist; and Debi Goenka, Environmentalist; Madhuresh, Activist — discussed the issue of Chenai’s toxic oil spill, zero accounbtability even 100 hours after the massive operation to clear the sludge, and whether common man’s health is worth nothing for the politicians.

The oil spill that took place off the Chennai Coast following collision between two ships is the biggest story of civic apathy that common man faces.

Oil spill has been a cause of concern ever since “M T BW Maple” leaving after emptying Liquefied Petroleum Gas on January 28 collided with M T Dawn, Kanchipuram, loaded with petroleum oil lubricant (POL) off Ennore Port, which is among top 12 major ports in the country.

Six days after two cargo ships collided at the Ennore coast resulting in a major oil spill, efforts are on to remove the oil cover and restore the ecosystem.

More than 50 tonnes of sludge has been removed so far.

The Coast Guard, the Port authorities, and the Navy have stepped and operations are on round the clock to clear the sludge. Volunteers and fishermen are also working to help the authorities.

A number of personnel wearing gloves are seen scooping up the thick tar with shovels off Kamarajar Port, formerly Ennore Port.

The issue has sparked off a blame game, as Port authorities claim that they didn’t know about the spill for 2 days after the incident on January 28.