The Kerala High Court has directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the State Government to file an affidavit in response to a writ petition seeking steps to prevent any possible chemical accidents on the site and off site project areas of the Petronet LNG terminal here.

A division bench directed that the affidavits be filed within two weeks.

The petition was filed by the Elamkunnapuzha Residents Apex Council.

The Kerala Latin Catholic Association also sought to implead itself in the case. According to the association, it was not against the project. Fishing had been banned for the last couple of years.

The company had not discussed the ban on fishing with the local residents and others.

Corporate responsibility

The petitioner also sought a directive to ensure that the project was commissioned only after Petronet LNG Limited complied with the directive of the State Government to earmark at least 5 per cent of the total cost of the project toward Corporate Social Responsibility.

Petronet LNG limited had earlier stated that a high standard of safety regulations had been put in place at the LNG terminal at Puthuvypeen. In an affidavit, the company said that it had obtained all the required permissions from the statutory authorities, including the Pollution Control Board (PCB). The affidavit also said a study conducted by a Hong Kong-based firm had concluded that the possibility of any fatalities to the surrounding population was remote.

Protection layers

The construction would not pose any danger to people living near the terminal. Besides, it would not result in any destruction of mangroves.

According to the affidavit, an elaborate fire protection system had been put in place.

Multiple layers of protection had been provided at the terminal to prevent any leakage of the liquefied natural gas.