The protests had also been backed by both actor-turned-politicians, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
In a major development that will reverberate in Tamil Nadu politics, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has rejected Vedanta's plea to renew the consent to operate (CTO) for its Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi, claiming that it was not "fulfilling its conditions".
The TNPCB decision to reject the renewal of the CTO comes amid a sustained protest for over eight weeks by the villagers living around the plant, seeking the closure of the existing smelter unit and immediate stoppage of the work on the plant expansion. The protests had also been backed by both actor-turned-politicians, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
"Vedanta group's Sterlite Copper Smelter plant at Thoothukudi has applied for the CTP license for its unit-I to run the plant after March 31. TNPCB has rejected the application, as it found that the company did not fulfil the conditions laid out by it," said TNPCB chairman Mohammed Nazimuddin.
TNPCB revealed its decision hours after Vedanta wrote to the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange on Tuesday, notifying it of the developments. In the letter, Bhumika Sood, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, Vedanta informed, "The company had applied for renewal of CTO for its existing smelter plant at Thoothukudi. The application has been rejected for want of more clarifications. The company is evaluating further course of action."
Environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman said that this is not the first time Sterlite has failed to renew its CTO. "Between 1996 and 2011, the company operated without license for more than 8 years and even illegally expanded and set up unauthorised factories while operating without license," he said.
Domino Effect
TNPCB revealed its decision hours after Vedanta wrote to the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange, notifying it of the development
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}