Madras High Court’s Madurai bench has ordered status quo on a plea against reopening of the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi following an order by the National Green Tribunal on Friday, 21 December.
The move comes as a jolt to the Vedanta group that owns the Sterlite copper smelting plant, which ran into trouble for alleged environmental violations.
The court also said that the status quo will continue till 21 January and asked the state government if it was going to appeal against the NGT order in the Supreme Court. The government has also been directed to respond by 21 January.
Justices KK Sasidharan and PD Audikesavalu of the Madurai bench restrained the Vedanta group from taking any steps to reopen the unit. Posting the case for 21 January, the bench issued notice to the state chief secretary and the chief executive officer of Sterlite to file their counter.
Closure of Plant ‘Unjustified’
On an appeal by Sterlite, the NGT had quashed the 28 May order of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for permanent closure of the plant in the wake of protests by locals, holding that it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified".
On Thursday, 20 December, Sterlite said that it had sought permission from the TNPCB for reopening the plant.
With this order, the Madras High Court has put on hold the recent relief granted by the NGT permitting reopening of the plant.
The court’s order has come after a petition was filed by environmentalist Fathima Babu who had cited pending cases against Sterlite over violations.
Sterlite had announced a number of welfare measures, Rs 100 crore package for educational, health and community development initiatives, and to work towards a better and sustainable relationship with the people of Thoothukudi.
The Tamil Nadu government has said they will appeal against the NGT order.
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