Chennai: The Supreme Court Tuesday refused to stay a green court order to reopen the Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi.
Thirteen people were killed last year when the police opened fire on a demonstration against the Vedanta-owned plant. The locals charged the company with polluting air and water. But Sterlite has been denying the charges.
On 15 December, the National Green Tribunal dismissed the Tamilnadu order to close the copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi. But the Madras High Court ordered status quo for a month.
In today’s order, the Supreme Court has allowed the re-opening of the Sterlite plant. But it has cautioned that the company should follow the rules that have been prescribed by NGT.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, M K Stalin, raised the issue in the House this morning and sought the government’s reply to the Supreme Court order.