Green Tribunal-appointed IIT professors to inspect Sterlite's factory

The copper factory of Vedanta Group was closed for over 20 days for alleged pollution

‪ IIT Professor P S T Sai to head the Committee which was appointed by The National Green Tribunal-Southern Region to check the status of machines and instruments of Sterlite's copper plant at Tuticorin. It may noted the plant was closed since March 29th after State Pollution Control Board's order after it was alleged emission from Sterlite's factory was beyond prescribed limit.  

The company has said it is incurring around Rs 50 crore revenue loss everyday due to the closure.

The other member of the newly appointed committee include Lijy  Philip, another IIT professor and D Sumathi, GM- Health, safety, and environment Sterlite a representative from Sterlite and Additional Chief Environment Engineer of TNPCB, Chennai. Representatives from Sterlite and TNPCB will assist the Committee during the inspection, said the Tribunal.

In an interim order on April 12, the Tribunal said that the factory can function only for the inspection and should not produce any products for commercial purpose.

The factory has been closed since March 29, 3013 after the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) alleged sulphur di-oxide (SO2) emission went beyond permissible level from Sterlite's copper factory.

The appointment of the Committee came after the respondents (including MDMK leader Vaiko and others) who have alleged  that Sterlite's machines and instruments attached to the plants are not working in proper condition and led to emission of SO2 in excess and caused health hazards.

In reply to which Sterlite submitted that all the machinery are in perfect working condition and no emission above the limits happened during March 23, the date which the TNPCB alleges the excess emission. To check the same the Tribunal has to take the experts Opinion.

The Committee will assess the  Analyser, which assess/analyse the extent of SO2 that it released into the atmosphere, find out the location and working and monitoring condition of National Ambiant Air quality System.

The Committee will submit its report on 29th of April, said the Tribunal, while passing the interim order, after hearing Sterlite, the Pollution Control Board and other parties for one full day on April 12th.

The Tribunal is expected to give its final order post the report submitted by the appointed Committee.

The Southern Bench of the Tribunal, comprising of Justice M Chockalingam and expert member R Nagendran.

The Tribunal also asked Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to supply power during the inspection.