Chennai: Hours after the Supreme Court paved the way for its reopening on Tuesday, Vedanta group firm Sterlite Industries said it will approach the Tamilnadu government for necessary approvals for restarting its copper unit in Tuticorin.
The state government had issued the closure order after violent protests against the copper plant in Tuticorin on 22 and 23 May led to death of 13 people in police firing.
In a statement, Sterlite said it was looking forward to restart one of the best Copper smelters of the world, and it remains committed towards world-class environmental standards. As per the Supreme Court directions, the firm was approaching the state government for necessary approvals for restarting the copper unit.
Thanking the people of Tuticorin for their support, Sterlite said it will go a long way in promoting socio-economic development in the region.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday refused to stay the 15 December order of the National Green tribunal (NGT) setting aside the Tamilnadu government’s decision to close the copper plant.
A bench comprising Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha also stayed the 21 December 2018 status quo order issued by the Madurai bench of Madras High Court in regard of re-opening the plant.
The NGT had set aside the state government’s 28 May order for permanent closure of the Sterlite copper plant, and it was unjustified.
The state government has moved the top court against the 15 December 2018 order of the NGT, saying the tribunal had “erroneously” set aside various orders passed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) last year with regard to the issue.