Vedanta's Sterlite Copper hails NGT order allowing resuming Tuticorin unit operations

Sterlite Copper, a subsidiary of Vedanta Ltd, Saturday welcomed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order allowing the company to resume operations at its unit at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
In May, the company had to close its smelter plant in Tamil Nadu following a state government order. The company had challenged the order in the NGT.

The state government had ordered permanent closure of the company's copper unit after 13 people, among protesters demanding its shutdown on environmental concerns, were killed in police firing.
On Saturday's NGT order, Sterlite Copper CEO P Ramnath said, "We welcome the order given by the National Green Tribunal on allowing us to resume operations of our copper smelter at Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin)."

The NGT set aside the Tamil Nadu government order for closure of the copper unit at Tuticorin, which was at the centre of massive protests over alleged pollution, saying it was "non sustainable" and "unjustified".

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson A K Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to pass a fresh order for renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of the environment in accordance with law within three weeks from Saturday.

Satisfied with the order, Ramnath further said, "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." 

 The Tamil Nadu government Saturday said it would challenge in the Supreme Court the NGT order setting aside the closure of the Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin on pollution grounds in the wake of protests by locals.

The opposition parties hit out at the state government, holding it responsible for the development with the DMK alleging that the 'negligent' attitude of the Palaniswami ministry resulted in the 'embarrassment'.

The Vedanta group said it would take all steps required to restart the unit as per the guidelines of the tribunal and that the company would continue to adopt "best practices followed globally" in its operation.

The National Green Tribunal Saturday set aside the order of the state government to permanently close the Sterlite Copper plant, holding that it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified".

Allowing an appeal by Sterlite, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson A K Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to pass a fresh order for renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of the environment in accordance with law within three weeks from Saturday.

The state government had on May 28 ordered the permanent closure of the factory days after violent protests by the locals against the Sterlite led to death of 13 people in police firing.

In a terse reaction to the NGT verdict, Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that "the Tamil Nadu government will appeal against this order in the Supreme Court".
Attacking the government, DMK President M K Stalin said it should not stop with merely saying it would appeal and take concrete action to permanently close the unit.

The state cabinet should take a policy decision to ensure the permanent closure after gathering evidence of environmental threats and conducting scientific surveys to show continued operation of the copper unit would result in irreversible pollution, he said.

In a statement, Stalin said despite the DMK's insistence on a policy decision by the state cabinet to permanently close down the Sterlite unit, Palaniswami government got the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to issue the order for the shut the unit.

"By his negligent action, Palaniswami has not only brought embarrassment to himself but has also brought shame on the state officials known for their administrative efficiency," he alleged.

Senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the government's stand was that there was a permanent closure of the copper plant.

"We have already taken a decision that this plant should not be operated at any cost. That is our stand. As stated by the Chief Minister, we will make an appeal against the NGT order", he said.

In Coimbatore, Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani and Environment Minister K C Karuppannan said there was no change in the stance of the state government and the Chief Minister that Sterlite would not be allowed to function again.

"The government will fight the issue legally and approach the court at the earliest", they said.

A strong opponent of Sterlite, MDMK chief Vaiko alleged that the ruling AIADMK and the TNPCB were responsible for the NGT order.

"Fearing huge public unrest over the issue, the government enacted a drama by closing the unit on May 22, he alleged.

Vaiko, who was a party before the NGT and argued in support of closure of Sterlite unit, said he would approach the Supreme Court against the tribunal's order.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan said the state government should obtain a stay on the NGT order and convene an all-party meeting to discuss the future course of action.

In its filing in the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Vedanta Ltd said the court had directed the TNPCB to pass fresh order of renewal of consent and restoration of electricity supply for the plant's operations within three weeks.

"We will study the order in detail and shall take all the steps required to restart the operations as per guidelines given by the Honourable Court.
"We have been operating our Smelter with the best-in-class technology adopting best practices followed globally and shall continue to do so," it said.