Sterlite Copper Plant Closed Permanently in Thoothukudi after 13 Lives

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday ordered to seal Vedanta group’s copper plant in Thoothukudi and close it down “permanently” following last week’s violent protests during which 13 people were killed in police firing. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami released the order against the Vedanta group plant, shortly after the Tamil Nadu Environment and Forests Department issued a two-page Government Order for its “permanent” closure. Vedanta termed the decision “unfortunate.” Thootukudi district collector Sandeep Nandamuri sealed the premises of Sterlite Industries.

Sterlite Copper Plant Permanently Closed

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Tamil Nadu Police have also lodged FIRs against P Shekhar, a Deputy Tahsildar (Elections) and Kannan, who supposedly gave the orders to open fire at the mob of protesters on May 22 and May 23 in Thoothukudi.

The FIR copy reveals that the Deputy Tahsildar, acting as executive magistrates, gave the orders when the mob became violent, and the situation went out of control.

Sterlite Copper Plant Permanently Closed

The Sterlite Copper factory directly employed around 3,500 workers, including 2,500 on contract, comes against the backdrop of the killing of 13 persons in police firing at an anti-Sterlite rally.

The order reveals that “Under Sections 18(1)(b) of the Water Act 1974, in the larger public interest, the government endorse the closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and also direct the TNPCB to seal the unit and close the plant permanently.”

Sterlite Copper Plant Permanently Closed

Read also TNPCB Orders Closure of Sterlite Plant in Thoothukudi

It pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) did not renew the Consent to Operate to Vedanta Ltd.’s copper smelter plant in its order dated April 9, 2018.