SC declines urgent hearing of plea regarding Sterlite plant case
The Supreme Court today declined urgent hearing on a plea by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the National Green Tribunal's order allowing Vedanta group access to the administrative unit inside its closed Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin in the state. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said it will hear the plea next week.
TN government had moved SC against the NGT order
The state government had on August 14 moved the SC against the NGT order. The NGT had on August 9 allowed Vedanta to enter the administrative unit inside its Sterlite copper plant, observing that no environmental damage would be caused by it. The tribunal, however, had said the plant would remain closed and the company wouldn't have access to its production unit.
Violent protests over pollution concerns led to shutdown of plant
The Tamil Nadu government had on May 28 ordered the state pollution control board to seal and permanently close the mining group's copper plant following violent protests over pollution concerns.
A brief history of the Sterlite plant case
Sterlite's factory had made headlines in March 2013 when a gas leak led to the death of one person and injuries to several others, after which the then chief minister, J Jayalalithaa, had ordered its closure. The company had then appealed to the NGT, which overturned the government order. The state then moved the Supreme Court against it and the case is still pending.
State witnessed violent protests after Sterlite announced Tuticorin plant's expansion
The Supreme Court had then ordered the company to pay Rs. 100 crore as compensation for polluting the environment. After Sterlite announced its plans to expand the Tuticorin plant, local people in the state started fresh stir that continued for over 100 days, culminating in the May 22 police firing on protesters that claimed 13 lives and left scores injured.
