High Court rejects Sterlite’s plea for restoring power supply

The judges were convinced with the submission of the government that the chemicals, including sulphuric acid, were being removed as per the recommendations  of the high-level expert committee. The experts had recommended the removal of some chemicals within 90 days, the government counsel said. 

The judges said there was no need to restore power supply as the government itself was doing the job of removing the chemicals properly. The Sterlite management said the leakage of acid was a “serious matter” and sought access to the plant for the company officials to remove the acid for which they sought restoration of minimum supply of power. The leak was detected last month at a godown of the copper plant. 

Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri had then said there was no need to panic and the leak would be plugged. Thirteen people were killed in police firing on May 22 and 23 when violence broke out during protests, demanding closure of the plant over pollution issues. 

A CB-CID team probing on Monday produced bullets that were allegedly used by the police personnel during the Thoothukudi firing incident before the Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate court. Besides, blood stained clothes and belongings of victims that were found at the scene of incident were also produced before the court, sources said.  

In the wake of the deadly incident, the State government ordered a CB-CID inquiry into the killing and incidents of stone pelting and arson that led to violence. The CB-CID team, comprising of seventy police personnel led by Additional Superintendent of Police, launched its investigation on June 2. The team interrogated witnesses at Thoothukudi Collectorate, Third Mile area, Anna Nagar and Threspuram, sources said.

In an initiative to help workers rendered jobless due to the closure of Sterlite Copper plant find employment, the Thoothukudi district administration on Monday set up a help desk at the Collectorate. A dedicated website ‘Thoothukudi.online’ was launched to provide employment opportunities. The employees and contract workers of Sterlite plant could enrol their names on the website, Collector Sandeep Nanduri said. Few days ago, a consultative meeting was convened with employers of fifty companies. About 120 persons had enrolled their names expressing interest in the jobs. Few private companies have displayed vacancies in various positions and have also listed their eligibility criteria. Talks are being held with the managements of 300 companies that are functioning across the district. Collector Sandeep Nanduri also said that the needs of residents of 15 villages surrounding the copper plant were being ascertained. A proposal has been sent to the State government for implementing a drinking water project and other vital infrastructure facilities like roads and anganwadi centres.