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Tamil Nadu: Vedanta challenges closure of factory

The green court also refused to grant an interim stay on the TN government’s closure order and said that it will now hear the matter on July 18

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday issued notice to Tamil Nadu government, the state’s pollution control board and its electricity board seeking their response on a plea filed by corporate giant Vedanta that has challenged TN government’s permanent closure order of of its Sterlite copper smelter factory in Tuticorin. The green court also refused to grant an interim stay on the TN government’s closure order and said that it will now hear the matter on July 18.

Vedanta’s plea comes over a month after the TN government issued a closure order on May 28, citing protection and improvement of environment. The factory was at the centre of a major environmental row and locals of Thoothukudi had alleged that it was causing severe air and water pollution. Locals had held protests for 100 days at a stretch and on May 22, 13 protesters were killed in police firing and several were injured in the clashes with the police.

The company’s plea was admitted on Thursday by a three-member bench headed by Acting chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim. During a brief hearing, senior advocates C S Vaidyanathan and Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for Tamil Nadu government, questioned the maintainability of Vedanta’s plea and said that the company has already approached multiple forums, including Madras High Court.

Senior advocate C.Aryama Sundaram, appearing for Vedanta, told the bench that there was a sulphuric acid leak in the plant and hence it had to rush to the high court as NGT was closed. “We had to seek permission to enter the plant,” Sundaram said. “Let this not turn into an environmental hazard when there is none,” he added.

In its plea before the green court, Vedanta has sought restoration of “minimum power supply, water and manpower access for safeguarding the emergency systems of the plant, as it houses various chemicals, resins and fuels as due to sudden closure of the plant the same poses a threat to surroundings.”

MAJOR ROW

Vedanta’s plea after the TN government issued a closure order on May 28, citing protection and improvement of environment. The factory was at the centre of a major environmental row.

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