Tamil Nadu: Sterlite moves NGT against closure order of plant

Sterlite Copper has filed an appeal before the National Green Tribunal, challenging the orders passed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board directing closure of its Copper Smelter unit at Thoothukudi, in Tamil Nadu.

The company has also sought NGT’s permission to allow it to carry out care and maintenance of the plant and other interim reliefs, during the pendency of Appeal, said the Vedanta Ltd, the holding company of the Sterlite Copper, in a statement here.

Days after 13 anti-Sterlite protesters were killed in police firing, TNPCB which had rejected the company’s application to renew the ‘consent to operate’ for the smelter unit, issued directions for disconnection of the power supply and closure of the plant on May 24. On May 28, Tamil Nadu government ordered to permanently shut down Sterlite’s copper plant.

The plant with the capacity to produce 4 lakh tonnes of copper annually remains shut since March 27 when it closed for annual maintenance.

Sterlite Copper has also moved Madurai bench of Madras High Court seeking access to the plant and restoration of power supply in the wake of a sulphuric acid leak from its storage tank in the plant. In its petition, the company alleged that it apprehends the leakage being an act of sabotage as there is currently insufficient security in and around the plant and warned that there “is thus a grave risk and danger especially because there are other tanks as well as flammable chemicals and materials within the plant area.”