Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Sunday sought to reassure the public that the fish caught along the coasts of Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram were safe for consumption, amid fears about the implications of an oil spill that occurred a week ago. Speaking to reporters after visiting Ernavur, where volunteers have been engaged in clearing the oil sludge caused by a collision between two ships off the Kamarajar Port in Ennore on January 28, he said that tests had confirmed that the fish were fit for consumption.
The Tamil Nadu Fisheries University and the Fisheries College, Ponneri, had collected samples from various locations affected by the oil spill, none of which were found to have any petroleum odour, sources explained.
Mr. Panneerselvam also asserted that there had been no delay in the response to the oil spill. A total of 5,700 personnel from various agencies including the Chennai Corporation, Fire Services, Highways Department, Chennai and Kamarajar Ports and the Navy were involved in the clean-up.
Work on cleaning up the beaches in Chennai and Kancheepuram was nearing completion, while the clearing of the oil sludge in Tiruvallur district was under way, Mr. Panneerselvam said, adding that any damage to fishing equipment would be assessed and compensated for.
He was accompanied by Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar, Environment Minister K.C. Karupannan, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidhyanathan and other IAS officials.
