TN fertiliser unit responsible for ammonia leak ready to pay Rs 5.92 cr compensation: Minister

The Tamil Nadu Environment Minister, Siva V. Meyyanathan, announced in the Assembly that Coromandel International Ltd, a fertiliser manufacturing unit in Ennore, Chennai, is ready to pay a compensation of Rs 5.92 crore after a gas leak incident on December 26, 2023. The leak had led to the hospitalisation of nearly 50 people. The next steps will be taken after ensuring all security measures are in place, the minister said.

During a special calling attention motion in the Assembly, members of the opposition demanded the closure of the fertiliser unit, citing environmental damage and health hazards. Tamil Nadu Congress President K. Selvaperunthugai, T. Velmurugan (TVK), K. Murugan (CPI), and VCK member S.S. Balaji were among those demanding the permanent closure of the plant.

The Environment Minister informed the Assembly that the compensation offer came after a notice from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Additionally, a seven-member expert committee has been set up to study the gas leak and ensure the implementation of new safety measures, such as a new pipeline with automatic systems and regular safety audits.

The announcement from the Environment Minister comes in response to growing calls for the closure of the fertiliser manufacturing unit following the gas leak incident late last year. The company’s willingness to pay compensation and the proposed safety measures will likely be key points of debate in the ongoing discussions surrounding the future of the plant in Ennore, Chennai.