Madras HC stays expansion of Sterlite copper plant

The Madras High Court's Madurai bench on Wednesday stayed the ongoing construction of a new copper smelter by Sterlite industries in Thoothukudi. 11 people were killed on Tuesday in police firing during protests against the construction of the new copper smelter.

Protesters have been demanding the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Tuticorin over pollution concerns. The protests turned violent with agitators fighting pitched battles with police, prompting it to open fire. Sterlite Copper, which currently operates a 400,000-tonne per annum unit in the city, maintains it has received necessary permits and has not violated any norms.

Meanwhile, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan is heading to Tuticorin. He is unlikely to attend the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru later today.

DMK Working President MK Stalin on Tuesday had condemned the police action, saying the state government should have sorted out the issue earlier through talks with the protesters.