Acid removal from Sterlite to be completed in 30 days

To evacuate the chemicals and the raw materials with proper safety guidelines, a high-powered technical committee formed by the State government inspected the plant. Based on committee recommendations and the government’s instructions, the evacuation operations would be carried out.

While speaking to reporters on Monday, the Collector said a special district-level committee led by the Collector himself would monitor the evacuation operations. The committee also comprises the Commissioner of Corporation, officials from the Revenue department, police, Pollution Control Board, TANGEDCO, Fire Safety and Industrial Safety, he said.

The storage tanks at the copper smelting unit contained sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, liquefied petroleum gas, high speed diesel, gypsum and copper concentrate. It would require more time for evacuating gypsum, but most probably the entire process would be completed within the 30-day period.

If required, mobile DG sets from market would be mobilised for the evacuation process and arrangements would be made accordingly, the Collector said.

The Sterlite plant, which faced public wrath over pollution, was sealed on May 28 as per the Government’s closure order after a massive rally in Thoothukudi turned violent on May 22, killing as many as 13 persons.