Tuticorn violence rocks TN House
issued today,” he had said.
Vedanta Ltd termed the closure “unfortunate” and said it would decide the future course of action after studying the development.
The Madras high court had on May 23 stayed the expansion of the Vedanta’s copper smelter plant in Tuticorin district on a petition filed by environmental activist Fathima Babu.
The petitioner submitted that Vedanta Limited should be restrained from carrying out activities in the lands on which the proposed copper smelterunit II was being constructed.
The court had also directed the Centre to submit within four months a report after holding a public hearing in the district to invite public opinion on the plan for expansion.
The locals were protesting for the closure of the factory for 99 days.
Protesters turned violent on May 22, the 100th day of their stir, and 13 people were killed in police action against them last Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Tamil Nadu assembly on Tuesday witnessed an uproar over the Tuticorin violence, which claimed 13 lives, with the opposition DMK staging a walkout from the House demanding “permanent closure” of the Vedanta group’s copper plant in that district.
Soon after the question hour, Leader of the Opposition, MK Stalin, targeted the state government for issuing a government order for the closure of the copper unit in Tuticorin rather than convening the cabinet and taking a policy decision in this regard.
Calling the issuance of the order an “eye wash,” tantamount to signalling the Sterlite management to approach the court on the matter, the DMK leader said the move was similar to what was done in 2013 in the issue.
Stalin had on Monday said that the plant had been closed in 2013 too but was reopened later.
The Tamil Nadu government had on Monday ordered the state Pollution Control Board to seal and “permanently” close the Sterlite Copper plant following last week’s protests, over pollution concerns, during which 13 people were killed in police firing.
Blaming the government for not holding talks with the people and seeking the CM K Palaniswami’s resignation, Stalin said his party will boycott the House proceedings till the plant was “permanently closed.” Later, he led his party colleagues in staging a walkout. The DMK members were dressed in black, which they said, was to signify their protest and grief over the firings.
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