After Panel finds closure 'unsustainable', NGT hearing tomorrow on Sterlite reopening

CHENNAI: The National Green Tribunal will hear on Friday arguments from the Tamil Nadu Government, the state pollution board and Vedanta-owned Sterlite Copper on the findings of a 3-member commission mandated to examine the environmental impact of the Sterlite Copper factory and the manner of closure of the plant in May this year.
The Tamil Nadu Government and state pollution control board submitted affidavits explaining their stand as to why the Vedanta plant needs to remain closed, according to a Tamil Nadu counsellor in New Delhi. Official sources with Sterlite Copper confirmed that the plant has also filed its response to the NGT Panel report.

On Wednesday last, NGT Chairperson AK Goel read out operative portions of the 48-volume document filed by the panel headed by former Meghalaya High Court judge Tarun Agrawal. It was revealed that the NGT panel had held that closure of the Sterlite plant was "unsustainable." The Panel also held the grounds on which the plant was closed were not "that grievous" to warrant the action.

Locals in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, were organised by pressure groups to stage a minor demonstration on Monday in the wake of the NGT Panel report.
Murali Rambha, superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi District, had said earlier that petitions for, and against, the reopening of Sterlite have been filed with the District Collector regularly since the closure of the plant in May this year.

The ongoing litigation in NGT began on July 3 this year. The state government has been consistently challenging the "maintainability"of the petition at the NGT. On Tuesday last, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea filed by Tamil Nadu against the proceedings at the NGT.