Tamil Nadu seeks permanent closure of Vedanta's copper smelter: officials

Policemen stand guard ahead of a protest, after at least 13 people were killed when police fired on protesters seeking closure of plant ...


Policemen stand guard ahead of a protest, after at least 13 people were killed when police fired on protesters seeking closure of plant on environmental grounds in town of Thoothukudi in southern state of Tamil Nadu, in Chennai, India, May 24, 2018

Chennai: Tamil Nadu state said on Thursday that it was seeking a permanent closure of a big

copper smelter run by London-listed Vedanta Resources after 13 people died in protests demanding the closure of the

plant on environmental grounds.

“The government’s position is very clear, it doesn’t want the plant to run,” said Sandeep Nanduri, the top official of the

district where the plant is located, after a meeting with senior state government officials. Other state officials confirmed the government’s position.

A general view shows Sterlite Industries Ltd's copper plant in Tuticorin, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu April 5, 2013 

On Tuesday, police opened fire on protesters demanding that the smelter in the port city of Thoothukudi be shut down. Inall, 13 protesters have been killed this week.

Residents and environmental activists say emissions from the plant, India’s second biggest, are polluting the air and water,

affecting people’s health.

Earlier on Thursday, authorities cut the power to the smelter. The pollution control board of Tamil Nadu said the smelter,

which was shut pending renewal of its operating license, was found last week to be preparing to resume production

without permission.

On Thursday, Vedanta’s Indian stock closed down 2 percent.

A company spokesman did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ email seeking comment on Tamil Nadu’s closure plan

and the allegation that it had been preparing to resume production without approvals. Vedanta has previously denied that

the smelter has been polluting the air and water.

“The issue of renewal of consent for the year 2018-2023 has been rejected ... due to non compliance of certain

conditions,” the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) said in an order dated Wednesday.

It did not elaborate on the conditions the smelter had not met but said it “shall be disconnected with power supply and

closed with immediate effect”.

The agency told Vedanta it could not resume operations without permission.

The plant has already been shut for more than 50 days and had been ordered to stay closed until at least June 6, pending

environmental clearances.

-Source: News Agency

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