Sterlite to Reopen

In a blow to the Tamil Nadu government, the three-member committee formed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) to probe the closure of the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi district has termed the state's move as unsustainable. According to the committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court Tarun Aggarwal, the NGT stated that the sealing of the copper smelter plant was against natural justice.

One of the main reasons provided was the lack of a notice and time given to the company to respond ahead of the sealing. The committee reports that the state government may give several reasons for closing down the unit. But the closure is not justified. The report submitted by the committee states that there are no sufficient grounds for closure and that it was purely a political move and the report is favorable to Sterlite. After 13 civilians lost their lives when Tamil Nadu police opened fire at them for marching in protest against the Sterlite plant, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board had ordered for the closure of the plant on May 28. Poovulagin Nanbargal, a green NGO, blamed the developments as an administrative failure of the state government. It indicates administrative failure of the Tamil Nadu government, which went about the whole closure episode in a haste, despite several opposition parties urging the government to ensure foolproof action. However a spokesman of the ruling AIADMK denied the allegation that it was an administrative failure and that the development on Sterlite was not a setback and said that the state government had sought the opinion of legal experts, and only then it proceeded ahead with its decision to close down the plant. A copy of the report has been given to counsels of the government and Vedanta Ltd and next hearing is scheduled on December 7 where both the parties are expected to give in their submissions in connection to the report next week. While portions of the report read out by the NGT speak about the grounds for closure, the order and the manner in which it was given, little has been said about whether the plant is a pollutant as alleged and if it had violated environmental laws. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a review petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Government over the NGT's decision to allow Vedanta Ltd to challenge the state government's closure order to the Sterlite Copper plant and had also questioned allowing Sterlite employees to access the administrative block. Whereby, the apex court said that there was no error in judgment warranting reconsideration of the order impugned and dismissed the review petition.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://swarajyamag.com/insta/sterlite-to-reopen-ngt-panel-slams-tn-governments-hasty-closure-of-copper-plant-seeks-response-within-a-week