Pollution watchdog orders closure of copper smelter unit in TN’s Thoothukudi, protest against which took 13 lives
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on Thursday ordered the closure of the Sterlite's copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi with immediate effect and disconnection of the power supply, days after 12 people were killed in police firing in protests seeking closure of the smelter plant turned violent.
The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation sources confirmed that the power supply to the company was disconnected on Thursday early morning based on the order issued by the TNPCB on Wednesday evening.
In the order, the TNPCB said the smelter, which was shut pending renewal of its operating licence, was found to be carrying out activity to resume production without permission during the inspection of the unit on May 18 and 19.
The board said that an application submitted by Vedanta Ltd – Copper Smelter Plant at Sipcot Industrial Complex in February for Renewal of Consent for 2018-2023 was rejected due to non-compliance of certain conditions imposed in the previous renewal of consent order issued to the unit.
In April this year, the board said that unit should not resume its production operation without obtaining prior approval or renewal of consent from the board. "However, during the inspection by Joint Chief Environmental Engineer, Tirunelveli, on May 18 and 19, it was found that the unit was carrying out activities to resume its production operation and recommended for the issue of direction for closure and disconnection of power supply to the unit," it said.
The TNPCB decision comes a day after the Madras High Court ordered a stay on the plant's expansion and directed that a public hearing be held on the issue.
2-decade protest
- Sterlite plant was in news for wrong reasons since then CM Jayalalithaa laid stone for it in 1994
- Locals moved courts, but plant continued with operations except for temporary shutdowns
- Residents complain noxious gas leaks and bad effluent management
- Fresh protest started in Feb this year after works on 2nd unit began
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