Tamil Nadu government to challenge NGT order on Sterlite

December 15, 2018 20:27

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said it would challenge in the Supreme Court the NGT order setting aside the closure of the Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin on pollution grounds in the wake of protests by locals.

The opposition parties hit out at the state government, holding it responsible for the development with the DMK alleging that the 'negligent' attitude of the Palaniswami ministry resulted in the 'embarrassment'.

The Vedanta group said it would take all steps required to restart the unit as per the guidelines of the tribunal and that the company would continue to adopt "best practices followed globally" in its operation.

The National Green Tribunal Saturday set aside the order of the state government to permanently close the Sterlite Copper plant, holding that it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified".

Allowing an appeal by Sterlite, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson A K Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to pass a fresh order for renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of the environment in

accordance with law within three weeks from Saturday.

The state government had on May 28 ordered the permanent closure of the factory days after violent protests by the locals against the Sterlite led to death of 13 people in police firing.

In a terse reaction to the NGT verdict, Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that "the Tamil Nadu government will appeal against this order in the Supreme Court".

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