Sterlite plant in Tamil Nadu to remain shut: NGT

Chennai, July 30: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday rejected Vedanta's request to grant interim stay on Tamil Nadu Government's order to shut down Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi. The matter has been posted to August 9. This is the second time that the NGT has refused to entertain Vedanta's plea to reopen the smelter plant.

Earlier, on July 5, the NGT refused to grant interim stay on the state government's order for the closure of the copper smelter plant.

Sterlite had appealed under section 16 of the NGT Act 2010, which states that, "any person aggrieved by an order or decision made, on or after the commencement of the National Green Tribunal Act, may, within a period of thirty days from the date on which the order or decision or direction or determination is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to the Tribunal."

On 28 May, the Tamil Nadu Government issued an order to permanently shut down the Sterlite Copper Smelter plant in Thoothukudi, "Under sections, 18(1)(b) of the Water Act, 1974 in the larger public interest, the Government endorse the closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and also direct the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to seal the unit and close the plant permanently."

On 22 May, violence had broke out on the 100th day of the Sterlite protest after police opened fire on residents who were marching towards the District Collector's office. Thirteen civilians were shot by the police during the confrontation, and scores of others were injured.