The Chennai Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (CPCL) on Thursday denied claims floating around on social media that leaks in pipelines at its refinery in Chennai's Manali area are behind a crude oil spill in the city, which is reeling under waterlogging in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung. The company also said it was investigating the oil spill.
ALSO READ: Cyclone Michaung Relief: Rajnath Singh Announces Second Installment Of Rs 450 Crore To Tamil Nadu
"There is no pipeline leak at CPCL Manali Refinery," the public sector undertaking (PSU) said in a statement issued via social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The clarification came after several social media users blamed CPCL following the emergence of videos that showed films of oil floating on the surface of flood water in Chennai's Ennore area.
ALSO READ: 'Those Wanted Here...': India On Killings Of Pakistan-Based Terrorists By 'Unknown Gunmen'
CPCL further said that though waterlogging also took place inside the premises of its Manali refinery, its staff ensured the "safe" operation of the facility. "CPCL supplies fuels like LPG, Petrol, Aviation Fuel and Diesel primarily to the state of Tamil Nadu. Due to cyclone Michaung incessant rains occurred, which caused an unprecedented flooding situation inside the refinery," CPCL stated.
It added, "Other industries of Manali were also badly affected.Despite the flood situation in and around the refinery, the CPCL team rose to the occasion and ensured uninterrupted safe operation of the refinery and supply of fuels to the state of TamilNadu." Ennore houses several oil refineries and petrochemical industries. The police are also working on tracing the origin of the oil spill in the area, news broadcaster NDTV reported.
Heavy rains owing to the impact of Cyclone Michaung lashed Chennai and its surrounding districts over the past week. 'Michaung' made landfall in the city on Tuesday. The flooding caused by the cyclonic storm claimed at least 17 lives, as per Greater Chennai Police.