Decades-old stir against Sterlite plant rages on
Nine people died on Tuesday in police firing after the anti-Sterlite protests turned violent in Toothukudi as protesters allegedly attacked the district collectorate demanding closure of plant. The violence has brought the decades-old protest back in the spotlight.
May 1995: Environmental clearances given to the plant, construction begins
October 1996: Plant starts operating, almost immediately clearances challenged before the Madras high court August 1997: Protests begin after complaints of air and water pollution.
November 1998: Interim order by the high court to close the plant, but reopened weeks later after company agrees to put pollution safeguards
January 2001: Complaints by locals of polluted water and release of toxic waste water from the plant
September 2010: Madras high court orders closure of the plant over pollution concerns but reopened less than a week later after Supreme Court stays the order March 2013: Tamil Nadu pollution control board orders closure of the plant after a gas leak
April 2013: Supreme Court fines Sterlite Rs 100 crore for pollution but doesn’t order closure of the plant
May 2016: Madras high court dismisses petition challenging expansion on the grounds that
no public consultation was held
February 2018: Fresh protests after reports that Sterlite is looking to expand the plant and increase capacity March 2018: Plant shuts for maintenance
April 2018: Tamil Nadu pollution control board refuses to renew plant’s license