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Sterlite expansion not permitted, government tells HC
The state government on Thursday informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the Sterlite plant was not functioning and also permission has been denied for expansion of the unit.
By
migrator
migrator
Madurai
The government submitted its reply in response to a to a petition filed by MDMK leader, Vaiko, seeking permanent closure of Sterlite Industries (India) Limited Copper in Thoothukudi. Accepting the reply, the court adjourned the hearing in the case to June 7.Â
Vaiko in his petition had stated that the operation license of Sterlite unit at Meelavittan village in Thoothukudi district, issued by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) had expired on March 31. The waste discharge from the unit was polluting land and air in Meelavittan and its neighbouring villages, he said in his petition.Â
Despite these circumstances, the Sterlite company was planning to expand its operations pending permission from state and central governments.Â
Residents fear that if the expansion happened the plant would manufacture 8 lakh tonnes of copper every year and the process would cause irreparable damage not just to human beings but would also render several thousands of acres of agricultural land waste. So, the Court should direct the state government not to grant permission for expansion of the Sterlite Industries and order the permanent closure of the unit, Vaiko said.
Security up at unit after hurling of petrol bomb
Even as the protests against the Sterlite company is continuing in Thoothukudi, a petrol bomb was hurled close to the main entrance of the company on Wednesday night. However, the anti-Sterlite protesters said that it was a ploy by the company to ensure that the bail granted by Madurai HC Bench to agitators were cancelled.
The incident happened around midnight when two persons, who came on a bike, hurled a petrol bomb close to the main gate of the company located on Thoothukudi- Madurai National Highways, and fled the spot. Though the bomb exploded with a big ball of fire, security guards of the company rushed to the spot and doused it. On information, Thoothukudi SIPCOT police reached the spot and security was tightened for the company.Â
Athisakumar, advocate and one of the coordinators of anti-Sterlite protests, said that the Madurai HC Bench granted bail to protesters with a condition that they should not indulge in violence. So, in an effort to put the blame on protesters that they were indulging in violence, the company has staged a drama like this, the advocate alleged.
Pointing out that the anti-sterlite protests were going on for over 20 years, the counsel said that so far not a single incident of petrol bomb hurling had been reported.
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