Working to evacuate acid spillage: Vedanta

NEWDELHI: The leak in the sulphuric acid tank was reported by police. As soon as we got to know of this, we informed the district administration and pollution control board and are working with them to evacuate the acid spillage safely.

Vedanta said on Monday is working with Tamil Nadu’s pollution control board and district administration to “evacuate” the acid spillage safely at its Thoothukudi copper smelter plant, which was shut down last month.

The company has no access to the premises after closure of the Sterlite copper smelter plant following a state government order on May 28, it said in a regulatory filing.

“The leak in the sulphuric acid tank was observed and reported by a police personnel deployed by the district administration.

“As soon as we got to know of this, we informed the district administration and pollution control board and are working with them to evacuate the acid spillage safely, to mitigate any environmental damage,” it said.

The company’s filing came in response to a query raised by stock exchanges regarding reports related to acid leak at the facility.

“We have filed a Writ of Mandamus before Madras High Court and submitted a note on potential safety risks with no supervision of the plant. Bench has directed the district administration and pollution control board to file their response,” it said.

According to the filing, the matter is now scheduled for further hearing on Monday.

Following violent protests, Tamil Nadu government, last month, ordered to permanently close the plant. Vedanta Ltd earlier said the sulphuric acid leak was severe and inaction could lead to serious environmental consequences.