SC sets aside NGT order allowing re-opening of Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi

Chennai, February 18: The Supreme Court, on Monday, 18 February have laid away the allowance of reopening of the Vedanta Group’s Sterlite copper plant, setting aside the NGT’s order dated 15th of December which had granted green signal to the plant. The SC’s order came after the state government approached the apex court against the National Green Tribunal's order allowing the reopening of the plant.

 

Vedanta’s Sterlite plant in Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) was shut down by the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), citing violation of environmental laws. The closure order was passed immediately after the plant had turned into a protest site, with citizens opposing the expansion of the plant.

The order was supported by the State government, which endorsed the same within a week. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has argued that Sterlite was responsible for air and water pollution and the resultant health hazards.

The Court allowed the appeal on grounds of maintainability and has said that Vedanta is free to file a writ petition before the Madras High Court. The judgment was then delivered by a Bench of Justices Rohinton Nariman and Navin Sinha. This Bench was hearing the challenge to the National Green Tribunal’s order of December 2018 that had given the green signal for the reopening of the plant.