New Delhi: The Supreme Court today declined Vedanta’s plea for immediate reopening of its copper plant at Thoothukudi.
A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman posted the case for detailed hearing in January 2021.
The Tamilnadu government recently objected to any move in the Supreme Court to reopen the Sterlite Copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi, saying the Madras High Court had ordered its permanent closure.
“The order is that of permanent closure,” senior advocate K V Vishwanathan and Additional Advocate General Balaji Srinivasan submitted before the apex court.
Vishwanathan said the plight and health of the people in the vicinity should be given priority.
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.