Chennai: The final hearing in the Sterlite Industries case was completed today at the Supreme Court during which Vedanta, the group that manages the recently sealed company in Thoothukudi, said that it is ready to provide infrastructure such as electricity and water projects worth Rs 100 crore in the locality if the plant is allowed to be reopened.
However, the State government disapproved the proposal and stated that they cannot allow the reopening of the plant.
Appearing on behalf of the State government, advocate Rakesh Sharma said the company’s claim that naxals hijacked the protest which led to the violence and the following shoot-out by the police that claimed 13 lives on 22 May, 2018 was not true.
“Shooting was initiated only to control the riot. Cases have been filed against the protestors and there was no need for a CBI investigation as ordered by the Madras High Court,” he argued. He also explained that there was no greenery inside the plant and elaborated how the industry flouted the norms.
After hearing the arguments the Supreme Court refused to stay the Madras High Court order for a CBI probe against police officials for firing during the anti-Sterlite protests.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued notice to the CBI on the petition filed by the Tamilnadu government challenging the High Court order. “We have to see the other side,” the bench, also comprising Justice S K Kaul, said.
The High Court ordered that FIRs be registered against top police officials and officials of the civil administration.
‘No proof of pollution’
During the argument at the court today, Sterlite Industries said there is no proof that storing of Gypsum and Sulphuric acid will penetrate and pollute the soil.