Ennore ammonia gas leak | NGT takes suo motu cognisance

Context: Based on media reports of several people from Periakuppam, Ernavur, Burma Nagar experiencing breathlessness and eye and skin irritation after leakage of ammonia from gas pipelines of the unit, the NGT on December 27 issued directions to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to file a report on the incident. 

News:

• A gas leakage occurred in the subsea pipeline of Coromandel International Ltd, a company specializing in the production of Ammonium Phosphate Potash Sulphate (APPS), primarily utilized as a fertilizer.
• The concentration of Ammonia in the surrounding air escalated to approximately 2090 micrograms/m3, exceeding the safe level mandated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which is set at 400 micrograms/m3 for a 24-hour average.
• Responding to the situation, the Environment Minister of Tamil Nadu has issued an order for the temporary shutdown of Coromandel International Limited until further notice.

 Ennore:

Ennore, situated in Chennai, is delineated by the Korttalaiyar River, Ennore Creek, and the Bay  of Bengal. This neighborhood is demarcated by the creek, with the southern

• part encompassing notable areas like the North Chennai Thermal Power Station and Ennore Port. Ennore Creek, situated in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, is a backwater region. Its northern boundary is formed by Pulicat Lake, while the southern limit is defined by the Manali marshlands.

About ammonia

Ammonia, represented as NH3, is a compound comprising Nitrogen and Hydrogen, presenting as a colorless gas with a strong and penetrating odor. It exhibits high reactivity and dissolves readily as an alkaline gas.

Production:

Natural: Formed in soil through bacterial processes, natural production occurs during the decomposition of organic matter, including plants, animals, and animal wastes. Bacteria in the intestines and lightning strikes can also contribute. Commercial: Produced through processes like steam reforming of natural gas and coal gasification.

Uses:

• Serves as a precursor for various commercially significant nitrogen compounds, notably in fertilizer production, with urea being a widely utilized nitrogen source.
• Applied in household and industrial cleaning products.
• Utilized in the form of ammonium salts such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and various ammonium phosphates.
• Employed in the manufacture of commercial explosives.
• Acts as a refrigerant and coolant.

Ammonia as a Pollutant:

• Emission Sources: Agriculture, including NH3-based fertilizer applications, industrial processes, vehicular emissions, and volatilization from soils and oceans.
• Effects: Contributes to increased Biological Oxygen Demand in water, reducing oxygen availability for aquatic life. Causes nutrient pollution and eutrophication in water bodies due to excessive agricultural runoff. Excessive urea usage leads to soil acidification. Containers exposed to fire or heat may violently rupture.

Ammonia as a Toxic Gas:

• Causes direct toxic damage to leaves and modifies plant susceptibility to frost, drought, and pathogens.
• Prolonged exposure to low concentrations or short-term exposure to high concentrations may result in adverse health effects from inhalation, including burning nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation.

NGT

• The National Green Tribunal, formed under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, has its principal sitting location in New Delhi, with additional sitting places in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
• The tribunal is responsible for conclusively resolving applications or appeals within six months of their filing.

Composition

• The composition of the NGT includes the Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Expert Members, each serving a non-renewable term of five years.
• The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, while a Selection Committee is established for appointing Judicial and Expert Members.
• The tribunal can have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time members.

Powers and jurisdiction

• The NGT's powers and jurisdiction are aimed at the efficient resolution of cases related to environmental protection and the conservation of forests and natural Resources.
• It holds appellate jurisdiction and is not strictly bound by the procedures of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but operates based on principles of natural justice.