SC orders to keep sterlite plant of TN shut

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday set aside the National Green Tribunal order of re-opening of Thoothukudi Sterlite plant on the ground of maintainability.

The apex court said that the NGT had no jurisdiction to entertain the appeals of Vedanta, owner of the plant, against the Tamil Nadu government order to close down Sterlite plant. Although, the court added that the company was at liberty to approach Madras High Court to seek permission for reopening the plant.

The bench hearing the matter included Justices Rohinton F Nariman and Naveen Sinha.

Last year in May, the plant was ordered to be shut down by the state government due to allegations of pollution which had led to huge violent protests. At least 13 people died when the police opened fire on the demonstrators.

Several environmental experts have claimed that the copper smelting unit of the plant was polluting the groundwater in the area, causing widespread diseases.