Why eco-restoration alone won’t help residents of the heavily industrialised Manali

For decades, residents of Ennore and Manali in North Chennai have lived under the shadow of fertiliser plants, oil refineries, and coal-powered thermal plants along the coast. The presence of these “red-category” industries makes Tiruvallur district the State’s most polluted industrial cluster , which has left locals there to endure recurring gas leaks, oil spills, and layers of toxic dust settling over fishing hamlets and working-class neighbourhoods.

Recurring industrial hazards

The crisis deepened in December 2023, when two major industrial accidents — an oil spill and a gas leak — once again exposed the vulnerability of residents. In response, the Tamil Nadu government set up the Manali Ennore Rejuvenation and Restoration Council (MERRC), which was recently launched by the Minist