New Delhi: The Tamilnadu government has registered its protest in the Supreme Court to any move to reopen the Sterlite Copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi, pointing out tat the Madras High Court had ordered its permanent closure.
“The order is that of permanent closure,” submitted senior advocate K V Vishwanathan and Additional Advocate General Balaji Srinivasan before a Bench of Justices Navin Sinha and K M Joseph.
Vedanta Ltd, which owns the plant, told the Supreme Court bench that all required compliances have been met. “Various conditions for the operation of the Sterlite plant have been duly complied,” said senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, arguing that the plant should be allowed to reopen on a three month trial basis.
The Bench gave Singhvi an opportunity to file documents and suggestions in the case. The Bench posted the case for 2 December.
The plant was closed in May 2018 following an order by the Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board. Protests against the plant saw 13 people die in police firing.