TN Government orders permanent closure of Sterlite plant; issues GO

Chennai/Thoothukudi: Exactly a week after the anti-Sterlite protests turned violent, claiming 13 lives in police firing, Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued a Government Order (G.O) to "seal and permanently close" the United-Kingdom based Vedanta Group's Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant in Thoothukudi.

The G.O issued by Environment and Forests Department said, it was brought to the notice of the government that Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) did not renew the Consent to Operate to M/S Vedanta Limited, Copper Smelter Plant in its order dated April 9, 2018. Subsequently, on May 23, 2018, TNPCB has also issued directions for closure and disconnection of power supply to the Unit.  The power supply was disconnected on May 24.

"In the larger public interest, under Sections, 18 (1) (b) of Water (Prevention and Control Pollution) Act, 1974, the Government endorse the closure direction of the TNPCB and also directed the Board to seal the unit and close the plant permanently," it said.

Following the G.O, Thoothukudi district officials led by Collector Sandeep Nanduri went to the unit and sealed it, this evening.

Later, talking to newsmen, Mr.Nanduri said "we have sealed this plant as per the directions of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. The plant is permanently sealed. There is no more confusion. I request the people of Thoothukudi to cooperate with the district administration to bring normalcy back in the district, he added.

Separately, Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami, said in a statement that the citizens of Thoothukudi had been opposing the operation of the plant and were seeking a permanent closure of the plant as it had violated the terms related to the environment set by the National Green Tribunal and the TNPCB.

"Based on requests made by various groups opposed to the operation of the plant in a meeting today, the request to shut down the plant completely was considered in a rigorous manner," he said.

Mr.Palaniswami said the Tamil Nadu government was following in the footsteps of the late Jayalalithaa and hence has taken the decision to close the plant in the interest of the public.

The G.O. was issued on the eve of the Assembly session that begins on Tuesday and it came against the backdrop of the visit of Deputy Chief Minister O.Paneerselvam and Ministers to the riot-hit Thoothukudi.Meanwhile, people in Thoothukudi celebrated the G.O by bursting crackers and distributed sweets.

Thirteen people were killed and 102 people, including police personnel were injured last week after the protesters clashed with the cops during the anti-Sterlite protests.  Opposition parties demanded the resignation of Mr.Palaniswami owning moral responsibility for the killing of protesters in police firing. In this scenario, the government today issued the order permanently closing the plant.(UNI)