Court nod for Chemfab to restart operations

The Madras High Court has directed the territorial government to allow Chemfab Alkalis Limited to re-start operations at its factory in Kalapet, officials said here on Wednesday.

The factory was shut after the district administration issued a “closure order” in January following an incident of chlorine gas leak that affected several persons living in a nearby village.

Special Secretary to Government (Environment) Theva Neethi Dhas told

The Hindu that the company now has to approach the offices concerned, including that of the District Magistrate, Director of Science and Technology, and the Inspector of Factories, to get the relevant orders for opening the factory.

The orders allowing the operations were passed after the court was satisfied that the factory had complied with the recommendations made by the Expert Committee, which was constituted by the district administration to go into the safety infrastructure in the factory.

The committee had made 37 recommendations following an inspection that was ordered by the High Court on April 1. The company submitted that out of 37 recommendations, 33 were already in place when the committee came for inspection.

Following the submission, the company was asked by the court to run the factory for two days and the committee was told to inspect the factory again to ensure if the recommendations had been followed. A report was then filed by the experts pointing at three important advices that were yet to be implemented.

After considering the report, the court asked the company to instal “Fixed Water Sprinklers” in the storage bullets and liquefier areas of the factory within five days of the order. The company was also asked to fix a Chlorine Scrubbing System within a scheduled timeframe under the supervision of the regulatory authorities.