Down to Earth

SURVIVING DESPITE VIOLATIONS

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Sterlite has flouted all the rules in the book but stayed afloat by manipulati­ng authoritie­s

1992:

Sterlite first proposed a copper smelting plant in Maharashtr­a and was allotted 202 hectares in Ratnagiri

1993:

A Maharashtr­a state government committee finds that the plant poses a danger to people and livelihood. District collector stalls the constructi­on

1994:

Tamil Nadu allows and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) issues an NoC with a condition that the plant should be 25 km from the Gulf of Mannar, an eco-sensitive zone. It also asked Sterlite to conduct an Environmen­t Impact Assessment (EIA)

January 1995:

The Ministry of Environmen­t and Forests (MoEF) issues environmen­tal clearance to Sterlite. No EIA submitted by Sterlite till then

May 1995:

TNPCB issues a Consent to Establish allowing Sterlite to start constructi­on. It also asked the company for a rapid EIA. The plant is constructe­d 14 km from the Gulf of Mannar

1996:

TNPCB issues the plant a licence to operate under the conditions that the factory does not contaminat­e ground water and air and the Sterlite develop a green belt of 25 m around the factory

November 1998:

Madras High Court directs the National Environmen­tal Engineerin­g Institute (NEERI) to study the environmen­tal impact of the plant. NEERI finds that Sterlite has flouted a series of environmen­tal regulation­s. Madras High Court orders a shutdown

December 1998:

Madras High Court modifies its earlier order and directs NEERI to conduct another study

February 1999:

NEERI recommends the factory to be run at full capacity and a detailed EIA to be conducted

March 1999:

TNPCB gives clean chit to Sterlite on complaints of local residents regarding health impacts due to gas leaks and allows it to increase capacity from 40,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes

July 2003:

Sterlite submits EIA after a delay of nine years

September 2004:

Supreme Court Monitoring Committee (SCMC) inspects Sterlite and recommends that permission to expand production for the plant should not be given

September 2004:

MoEF allows Sterlite

to expand capacity

November 2004:

TNPCB says Sterlite illegally producing copper, more than double the amount it was licensed to

2005:

MoEF, SCMC ask TNPCB to allow Sterlite to operate despite the violations

September 2010:

Madras High Court orders Sterlite shutdown in 1996 case

October 2010:

Supreme Court stays the Madras High Court order

March 2013:

TNPCB orders another shutdown of the Sterlite as people complain of a gas leak that caused suffocatio­n, coughing and eye problems. Sterlite challenges the order saying the other factories are causing the pollution. The closure is revoked

April 2013:

Supreme Court delivers the final judgement, accepting that Sterlite polluted Thoothukud­i. But the apex court does not shut the plant on account of its effect on the economy and jobs. It fines Sterlite R100 crore

April 2018:

TNPCB declines Sterlite a renewal of its consent to operate based on its violation of environmen­tal norms

May 23, 2018:

TNPCB orders disconnect­ion of power and water supply to Sterlite and Madras High Court stays the expansion of the plant

May 28, 2018:

The Tamil Nadu government orders permanent shutdown of the plant

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