Image is for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: Reuters
Although Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for its greenfield oil refinery and petrochemical complex proposed at Chevuru and Ravuru villages in SPSR Nellore district and the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) held a public hearing last year, various organizations opposed the project citing safety concerns.
Earlier, members of the Human Rights Forum (HRF) raised objections, saying the petrochemical project would adversely affect livelihoods and cause unmitigated pollution in the region. They expressed concern over the displacement of four villages – Chennaayapalem, Nandemmapuram, Pamuguntapalem and Salipeta – due to land acquisition for the project.
“Acquiring 6,000 acres for a 9 MMTPA petrochemical complex is unacceptable. The CPCL 10 MMPTA project at Manali in Tamil Nadu is spread over 800 acres. The HPCL 15 MMPTA unit at Visakhapatnam covers around 900 acres. The Para15-IOCL refinery MMPTA at Odisha’s Para15-IOCL-chemical complex is spread over 3350 acres,” HRF secretary AP G. Rohith said.
Scientists For People (SFP), a non-profit group of scientists fighting for environmental rights, has raised concerns about BPCL’s upcoming greenfield oil refinery and petrochemical complex. While local politicians and government officials are excited about the multi-million dollar project, SFP members shed light on its impact on the environment, people’s livelihoods and health risks.
Former Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) scientist K. Babu Rao, associated with SFP, said, “The proposed petrochemical complex will have a serious impact on the region. The public hearing held in December 2025 was not clear-cut. The changes sought by the company in the terms of reference (ToR) are more worrying.”
Citing the example of Louisiana, which produces more than 25% of U.S. petrochemicals, he said the region has been called “Cancer Alley” because of the cancer-causing air pollution that has followed the expansion of the petrochemical industry. “The proposed BPCL project along with the existing power plants in the area will harm the health of the people living in the region,” he said.
Calling for more public hearings in the villages, the scientist said: “Adequate green belt is necessary to capture the sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carcinogenic gases to be released from the refinery, otherwise the villages will be hit with toxic gases. Chemicals like benzene and vinyl chloride pose a risk of blood cancer (leukemia). Memory loss, organ damage, society, skin and changes can also occur. everyone to people.”
“The pumping of 26,000 cubic meters of seawater per hour (about 6.24 million cubic meters per day) takes a toll on the marine ecosystem. When seawater is pumped by huge pumps, fish eggs and small organisms are destroyed. The hot and concentrated salt water left over from water treatment is discharged into the sea, making it impossible to fish in coastal areas.
According to an SFP member, the stockpile of explosives in this petrochemical unit would be 3.5 times that of the PVC factory rejected by the people of Nellore in 2003. The chemicals used here are highly explosive. The company is unclear on the issue of an “off-site emergency plan” to protect people in the event of an accident.
During the public hearing, BPCL representatives mentioned that the PSU will give priority to local youth in providing employment opportunities in the proposed refinery, which is being set up with an investment of ₹1.03 crore. Along with job opportunities, the CSR funds will be used for village development, they said, adding that the services of neighborhood women will be used to increase the greenery by 17,000 plants.
Speaking to The Hindu, APPCB Environmental Engineer (EE) N. Ashok Kumar said, “If the ToR is changed, we will conduct a public consultation and seek written submissions from people who have any objections. We are sharing the statement with MoEFCC to consider the same before granting Environmental Clearance (EC).”
Published – 12 Mar 2026 08:16 IST
