India’s Tamil Nadu State Rejects Sterlite Request To Allow To Reopen Its Tuticorin Plant

India’s Tamil Nadu state on Wednesday (2) dismissed a request of Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite copper plant to reopen its unit located at Southern Indian coastal town Tuticorin following a judgement from country’s environment court setting aside its closure of the plant last year.

The Tamil Nadu state government has also clarified that it has filed a plea against the ruling of the environment court, National Green Tribunal (NGT) before India’s top court on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu, in its plea before the Supreme Court said that the environment court has "erroneously" set aside number of orders passed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in 2018 with regard to the Sterlite plant.

The state government further added that the tribunal had asked TNPCB to pass new orders of renewal of permission and issue authorisation to handle dangerous substances to Vedanta.

The TNPCB, in a communication to the Sterlite copper smelter, said "you are informed that the Tamil Nadu government and TNPCB has filed the appeal before the Supreme Court on January 2."

Following violent protests, Tamil Nadu government on May 28, 2018 had asked TNPCB to seal and shut the copper smelter permanently following violent protests by the local residents over environmental pollution concerns.

However, after an appeal by the firm, the NGT on December 15 set aside the state government’s order, holding that it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified". Following a ruling from NGT, Vedanta in December 20, 2018 said that it requested the TNPCB to reopen its copper smelter.

In a reply to the request made by the firm to make its plant operational, TNPCB said that the request made can’t be considered under the state government rules and regulations.

Last month, Madras High Court ordered status quo on the copper smelter issue until January 21 and directed the state government to inform the court if it plans to file a petition against the tribunal verdict.

Thirteen innocent were lost their lives in the police firing on May 22-23, 2018 and many others injured after the protests against the Vedanta plant turned violent in Tuticorin over environment pollution concerns.