The National Green Tribunal on Saturday set aside the Tamil Nadu government's order to close Vedanta's copper smelter plant at Thoothukudi permanently saying that the order did not provide an opportunity to the company for any remedial measures. Hours later, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said his government will appeal in the Supreme Court against the verdict.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Board to pass a fresh order of renewal of consent for Vedanta's copper smelter within three weeks. The TNPCB was also directed to restore electricity for the copper unit's operations.
It also directed the company to spend Rs 100 crore, as offered by it during the hearing, within a period of three years for the welfare of inhabitants in the area on projects like water supply, hospital, health services and skill development.
Earlier, a panel of experts headed by the former chief justice of Meghalaya High Court Tarun Aggarwal set up by the NGT last month said the authorities in Tamil Nadu had failed to comply with procedures before shutting down the smelter.
The tribunal decision came months after it was ordered shut by the Tamil Nadu government over alleged pollution that led to violent protests in May, which culminated when police opened fire on protesters and killed 13.
Sterlite Copper welcomed the NGT order. "We are happy that all those affected by the closure will get back their source of livelihood and the town of Thoothukudi will revert to normalcy. We will study the order in detail and shall take all steps required to restart the operations as per guidelines are given by the honourable court. We have been operating our Smelter with the best-in-class technology adapting best practices followed globally and shall continue to do so," P Ramnath, CEO of Sterlite Copper said.
Opposition in parties in Tamil Nadu hit out at the ruling AIADMK government for the NGT order reopening of the Sterlite plant. DMK president MK Stalin said that NGT order for reopening is a slap on the face for the State government because it ignored the warnings by Madras High Court judges and experts that mere government order would not be sufficient for closing down Sterlite plant. "At least now, chief minister should gather evidence for environmental hazards caused by Sterlite to prove that this plant would cause irreversible pollution. Besides, the government should take a policy decision to close down Sterlite," he demanded.
In Thoothukudi, the district administration and police appealed to the public to express their resentment on any issues in a democratic way as per the law. "We request to the people to be alert against the infiltration of outsiders in such protests and incite violence. We will take strict actions as per law on all those infiltrators and anti-social elements who incite violence," they said in a press statement.
Makkal Adhikaram, a Left-wing outfit, which was accused by the police for inciting violence during the May 22 protest against the Sterlite, has called for a demonstration against the NGT order across the state on December 17.
STATE TO MOVE SC
Hours after the NGT order, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the state will move the Supreme Court to challenge the green court’s ruling. Opposition has now slammed the ruling AIADMK over the NGT order.
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