CPCB report on chromium contaminated area at Ranipet, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 28/05/2022
Report of the CPCB in compliance of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) order, May 17, 2022 in OA No. 186/2020.
The matter dealt with remediation of M/s Tamil Nadu Chromates and Chemicals Limited (TCCL) chromium contaminated area at Ranipet, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. TCCL situated at SIPCOT Industrial Estate, Ranipet, Vellore, Tamil Nadu generated and disposed off huge quantity of hexavalent chromium bearing chromite ore processing residue on open land during its about 25 years of operation from 1976 to 2001.
The NGT had directed the CPCB to come with a finl remediation measure by which the chromium contaminated site can be properly remediated and restored to its original position. The CPCB had forwarded the final DPR to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board with request to take up remediation works as per the said DPR. As per the DPR, estimated cost for full scale remediation of contaminated area at Ranipet and the adjoining areas of TCCL site is Rs. 206 crore and apart from this, a groundwater remediation system is required to be operated for about 10 - 15 years at annual operating cost of about Rs. 10 - 15 crore. Excavation, treatment and disposal of contaminated soil and waste at On-site secured landfill (SLF) is about Rs. 194 crore.
Groundwater remediation by installing abstraction system (pump and treat system) along with a common water treatment plant for chromium contaminated water is about Rs. 12 crore. The report also said that the remediation cost was estimated during 2018-19 and the cost can escalate.