National green panel flays closure of Sterlite plant

CHENNAI: A 3-member expert panel appointed to look into the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper Smelter plant in Thoothukkudy has submitted an interim report, saying that the state government’s decision to shutter the plant was unjustiied.

The panel feels the closure was “against natural justice.” The NGT has asked the state government to respond within a week.

State Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju said the government will take necessary actions and will ensure that “the Sterlite plant stays shut.”

The panel set the next hearing for Dec.10, but affected parties requested for an earlier date and the hearing has been set for Dec.7, before which the state has to submit its response.

The state government had neither served any notice nor given Sterlite an opportunity to submit its arguments, the panel has pointed out.

“The state government may give several reasons for closing down the unit. But the closure is not justiied.” The plant was closed after a 100-day long protest by local people against high pollution culminated in a police iring that killed 13 people on May 22 this year.

The independent committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court Justice Tarun Agrawal was appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), months after Vedanta appealed against the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board’s (TNPCB) decision to seal the plant.

Scientists Satish C Garkoti and H D Varalaxmi are the other two members.

“The state government’s order to close the plant cannot be justiied,” says the panel’s report. “Ordering the closure of the plant was against nature.” The state government should have given a proper notice to Vedanta before taking such a measure, the committee said.

The committee’s observations and supporting documents together constitute over 40 bundles. Both Sterlite and antisterlite counsels have received copies of the report to study and interpret.

The committee comprises representatives from the the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF).

Prosecutors from Vedanta’s side cited political reasons for downing shutters at the copper plant at the panel headed by Chairman of the tribunal, AK Goyel, saying the closure of the plant took place was done due to political interventions. They added that the report has come in favour of re-opening of the plant and revealed that they will press for the same.