Sterlite protest: Madras HC stays construction of new copper plant
On Tuesday, at least 9 people were killed in a protest in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, after police opened fire on the protesters who were demanding the closure of the Sterlite copper plant run by UK-based Vendanta Resources. The protesters had allegedly turned violent. Meanwhile, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court stayed the construction of a new copper smelter by Sterlite in Tuticorin.
Local police open fire against protesters
Tuesday marked the 100th day of protests
Tuesday's protests at Tuticorin, now called Thoothukudi, was to mark the 100th day of the protests demanding the closure of the Sterlite copper plant which, residents alleged, had been causing health problems, and depleting and polluting ground water. Residents had been aggravated for a while now, but protests intensified this year after residents learnt that the Vedanta group wanted to double the plant's capacity.
No clarity on why protest turned violent
There's no clarity as to why Tuesday's protest turned violent. Local media sources said that the protesters, numbering around 20,000, were blocked from marching to the district collector's office by the police, but they continued. The police said that the protesters toppled vehicles, and set multiple vehicles on fire. Subsequently, police lathi-charged and fired tear gas at the crowd, before opening fire.
RaGa calls police action "state-sponsored terrorism"
Meanwhile, political leaders were fast to react. Opposition leaders like MK Stalin of the DMK, slammed the AIADMK government for ignoring the protests for 100 days. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi called the police action "murder" and said that the AIADMK were engaging in "state-sponsored terrorism". Actor Kamal Hasaan, who had earlier been present at the protest, also blamed the government.
Govt. announces compensation, sets up inquiry committee
Following the incident, the government has set up a commission headed by a retired judge to investigate the violence. Compensation of Rs. 10 lakh for families of those who were killed, and Rs. 3 lakh for those who got injured was also announced. Meanwhile, Vedanta's shares fell to their lowest since 5th July 2017 after falling by 5.50% following the violence.
Sterlite plant has been closed for 50 days for violations
The Sterlite plant, which can produce 400,000 tonnes of copper annually, is one of India's largest copper plants. It has been closed for over 50 days now after the state pollution regulator withdrew permission following allegations that the plant was not complying with pollution rules. However, this incidence apart, activists have alleged that the plant had faced temporary shutdowns in the past for violations.
Alleged gas leak from plant affected over 100 people
In March 2013, in a rather major incident, over 100 people suffered breathing problems, throat infections, and nausea following an alleged gas leak in the plant. Subsequently, the plant was asked to shutdown, but reopened later after authorities failed to establish that the gas leak had happened in the Sterlite plant. Later that year, the Supreme Court imposed a Rs. 100cr fine on Sterlite.
