Sterlite to reopen soon
Posted on: 01/Jun/2013 5:28:52 PM
The bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar has given the nod to reopen the copper smelting plant at Tuticorin. The Sterlite plant was shut down in March this year on an order by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) that claimed that the plant was illegally emitting noxious products.
‘Sterlite can resume operations within a week in the presence of a court-appointed committee. The plant can restart after fulfilling certain conditions… The March 29 order of the TNPCB ordering the plant`s closure was passed in an abrupt manner without any scientific data to support the allegations of a gas leak. It also said the timing of the complaints against Sterlite and the alleged gas leak "are not compatible to draw a conclusion that industry was offending."
‘The industry was allowed to operate for six days after the alleged gas leak on March 23… Sterlite unit is located is an industrial complex and there are a number of other industries there, including thermal power units. The TNPCB has not placed on record any determinative scientific data or reports to show that Sterlite alone was responsible for the alleged emission of Sulphur Dioxide (So2) on March 23’, said the bench.
