NGT gives green signal to reopen Sterlite Copper plant

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson A K Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) 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 Tribunal said that the restoration of electricity would be subject to the compliance of its directions on complying with its directions on Vedanta spending Rs 100 crore, offered by it, on projects like water supply, hospitals, health services and skill development in the area. 

Besides this, Vedanta would create a dedicated and interactive website where stakeholders could lodge their environmental related grievance, regular monitoring of the ground water quality as mandated by the TNPCB, and give timelines for the "effective compliance" of the conclusions of the Committee. 

The tribunal allowed the appeal of the company challenging closure of its Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu government had, on May 28, ordered the state pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the mining group's copper plant following violent protests over pollution concerns.

At least 13 people were killed and several injured on May 22, when police had opened fire on a huge crowd protesting against environment pollution allegedly caused by the plant.

In April, TNPCB rejected Sterlite's plea to renew the 'Consent To Operate' certification, saying the company had not complied with the stipulated conditions.