Disposal of gas cylinders ?

Recently there was leakage of chlorine from a cylinder in the Mumbai Port Trust yard and few were affected. Subsequently, I read that all these unclaimed chlorine cylinders lying in the yard for more than 10 years were disposed by dumping them in the sea, under the supervision of a responsible officer of Disaster Control Authority.

This is not a good practice to dispose the cylinders. By dumping the cylinders in the sea, we will be causing harm to the fishes under the water.

It is difficult to dispose a cylinder, if we do not know the contents. However, it is not a new issue to dispose chlorine cylinders. The chloro alkali industry which is well established in the country could have been approached. Every such manufacturing facility is equipped with neutralization / transfer methods. Every two years, the cylinders are tested by the manufacturers at their facilities by emptying the cylinders, cleaning, checking for corrosion, hydro test, etc.

It is unfortunate that a crude method is followed to dispose these chlorine cylinders and in the process creating a hazard for the marine environment.

This disposal is no different from adding effluents to water bodies by some erring industries.