The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday sought reports from the Environment Ministry, Tamil Nadu Government and other Government agencies, on the Chennai oil spill within 24 hours. It has called for facts of the oil spill and the measures being taken to clear up the sludge.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatantar Kumar issued notice to the Ministry the central and state pollution control boards, the Ministry of Shipping and the Tamil Nadu government through its through its Chief Secretary. This is following a petition in this regard, where they had been named offenders along with the “errant” vessels.
The bench asked the respondents to appear before it on Tuesday to file their response.
The fish and all the other aquatic animals have become victims to the widespread disaster caused by the two vessels as a result of their negligence,” said the plea, filed last week.In another plea filed on Monday, the counsel sought a direction to the authorities to follow national and international protocol in dealing with the disaster.
On January 28, 2017, two merchant vessels -- MV Maple Galaxy, owned by Tokio Marine Holding Inc. and under charter party contract with Indian Oil Corporation, collided with vessel MT Dawn Kanchipuram, operated by unknown persons near the Port of Kamarajar in Ennore, Tamil Nadu.