Nearly 200 people were arrested in Tiruvottiyur in north Chennai for blocking the Ennore Express Highway on Wednesday, while opposing the laying of the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (CPCL) crude oil pipeline.
The 17-km-long pipeline will be laid from Chennai port to CPCL, Manali, via sea route. The protesters, mostly fisherfolk from nearby coastal areas, opposed to the pipeline owing to concerns of likely pollution from the pipeline in the sea that might affect fish catch, besides marine life.
“In 2012, a public hearing was organised by the government to gather views on the CPCL pipeline and the fishing community had opposed the project. Both Chennai and Tiruvallur district officials had participated in this meeting as the pipeline crosses two districts. Despite registering our opposition, work restarted on the pipeline recently,” said J. Kosumani, president, Meenavar Makkal Munnani Sangam.
The Tiruvottiyur police confirmed that 84 men and 104 women were arrested on Wednesday morning for blocking the road on Ennore highway. They were released on bail later in the evening.
Will ensure safety: CPCL
CPCL sources said that taking into consideration the importance of the pipeline, various government agencies have granted clearances for the project. “We will ensure the safety of the habitations nearby, and very advanced technology with in-built safety measures is being used in the pipeline,” said an official source.
