Anti-Industry Activism Defeated? Supreme Courts Clears Way For Reopening Of Thoothukudi Sterlite Copper Plant

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (8 January) refused to stay the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order of setting aside the decision made by the Tamil Nadu government to close Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi, reports Times Of India.

A bench, led by Justice R F Nariman, sought a response from Vedanta on the government’s appeal against the NGT’s order to reopen the plant.

The state had moved the top court claiming that the NGT had set aside various orders passed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) concerning the Sterlite plant last year.

It also added that the tribunal had consequentially directed the TNPCB to pass new orders of renewal of consent and issue authorisation to handle hazardous substance to Vedanta Limited.

The NGT, on 15 December, had set aside the state government's order for closure of the Sterlite copper plant saying that it was "unjustified" and "non-sustainable".

The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel termed the decision of AIADMK government to shutdown the plant as “unjustifiable” and was “against the principles of natural justice.”

The bench also directed Vedanta to utilise ₹100 crore over the next three years, for “welfare of the inhabitants” of Thoothukudi.