WATER, POWER SUPPLY TO STERLITE CUT
Tamil Nadu now seeks permanent closure of Vedanta’s copper smelter
The beleaguered Sterlite copper smelter factory here was hit by yet another crippling knock with its water and power supplies cut off early Thursday morning following directive from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board ordering the disconnection.
“As the Chief Minister has said in Chennai earlier in the day, this means that Sterlite is closed down for good. And that meets the demand of the people. So it is now time for us to work towards restoration of normalcy,” the newly appointed district collector Sandeep Nanduri told a crowded press conference here.
Thoothukodi, May 24: Officials on Thursday cut the power to a large copper smelter run by London-listed Vedanta Resources after police shot and killed 13 people in protests against what they say is pollution generated by the plant.
Also the Tamil Nadu government said on Thursday that it was seeking a permanent closure of a big copper smelter.
“The government’s position is very clear, it doesn’t want the plant to run,” said Sandeep Nanduri, the top official of the district where the plant is located, after a meeting with senior state government officials.
The pollution control board of the state said the smelter, which was shut pending renewal of its operating license, was found last week to be carrying out activity to resume production without permission.
“The issue of renewal of consent for the year 2018-2023 has been rejected... due to non compliance of certain conditions,” the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) said in an order dated Wednesday.
It did not elaborate on the conditions the smelter had not met but said it “shall be disconnected with power supply and closed with immediate effect”.
The agency told Vedanta it could not resume operations without permission.
Residents and activists say emissions from the plant, India’s second biggest, are polluting the air and water, affecting people’s health. The plant has been shut for more than 50 days and had been ordered to stay closed until at least June 6.