The problem

Sirumugai is a small village in rural India located in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the river Bhavani. In 2001, the local viscose textile plant, the SIV Industries Ltd, shut down. This is now a legacy site, with the river and groundwater continuing to affect the health of the residents.

There are still 450 tons of high density liquid carbon disulphide stored in 14 tanks on the factory premises. The chemicals are stored underwater at room temperature (30 degree centigrade) to prevent evaporation. Evaporation can lead to cloud formation, which can then explode with a spark or friction, said a report from a scientific officer submitted to the Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural District, R. Dhinakaran. Recently both the water and electricity supply to the factory was cut off for non-payment of bills, exposing the chemicals and making them vulnerable to an explosion. A news report published 4/9/2005 entitled “A closed chemical factory in Tamil Nadu waiting to be another Bhopal’ mentions that even a gas leak will adversely affect a 4-kilometer radius but a gas explosion would flatten the entire village of Sirumugai.

Health Impact

Skin allergies, infertility, advanced maturity in girls, menstrual irregularities, miscarriages, breast & uterine cancer in women and congenital deformities in newborns are some of the health effects.

Current Activity

Site visited on July 12 2005. Blacksmith will monitor the safe transfer of the chemicals to its buyer.