Minor chemical leak detected in Sterlite Copper plant: Thoothukudi collector Sandeep Nanduri

A “minor” leakage of sulphuric acid was detected in the Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant’s storage units in Thoothukudi and work on arresting the leakage would begin on Monday morning said Thoothukudi collector Sandeep Nanduri.

The collector confirmed the chemical leakage after a special team of officials led by sub-collector MS Prasanth, comprising of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials, inspected the closed down smelter plant on Sunday evening following reports from the management stating that there’s been a chemical leakage in one of the plant's storage units.

Nanduri told reporters in Thoothukudi that an official team observed a minor leakage in the sulphuric acid storage unit. “It is only a minor leakage. As part of the safety measures, we have decided to evacuate sulphuric acid as early as possible under the supervision of our officials. We will start the work on Monday morning in the daylight,” he said. He added that the company has stored LPG, diesel and chemicals like sulphuric acids in their storage units.

The collector said that there is no reason to panic. He also reiterated that the fact that the company has been fully shut after a seal and closure order was issued by the Government on May 28, and that a number of approvals including consent to operate, factory license and registration certificate have been cancelled. “There are a lot of rumours being spread on social media. The plant is 100 per cent shut. There is no power or water supply to the plant. No one can get inside or get out of the plant,” he said, adding that only security staffs were there in the plant.

The Sterlite plant was permanently shut after Tamil Nadu government ordered its closure following the public protest against the polluting plant on May 22 turned violent and 13 people were killed in police firing.