Oil spill reaches coastal areas, triggers panic among 33 villages in Tamil Nadu

THE oil slick that was creating havoc in north Chennai for the past 10 days has now reached Pulicat coastal waters and inland Buckingham Canal, which is tidally connected to the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary.

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Pictures shared by local fishermen with this paper on Saturday showed the presence of thick tar-like oil balls along the coastline between Koraikuppam and Kattupalli. Although the quantity was not alarming, the fact that oil slick managed to reach Pulicat is worrisome as these waters are rich fishing grounds for over 30 coastal villages and a biodiversity hotspot for thousands of migratory birds that congregate every year.