SC to hear plea against restart of Sterlite copper plant in TN

Supreme Court is likely to hear tomorrow TNPCB's plea against an order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) allowing UK-based Vedanta Group company, Sterlite Industries Ltd, to recommence operation of its copper plant in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), in its plea, has sought quashing of NGT's May 31 order allowing Sterlite to restart its copper smelting plant in presence of a four-member committee set up by it for supervision.
A bench of justices Gyan Sudha Misra and Madan B Lokur will hear the petition tomorrow.
Earlier, TNPCB, on May 29, had ordered closure of Sterlite plant on complaints that it was emitting toxic sulphur dioxide.

The Green panel then set aside the order of TNPCB and allowed Sterlite Industries Ltd to recommence operation of its copper smelting unit.
It had also ordered constitution of a four-member panel, comprising Member Secretary of Central Pollution Control Board, a member or engineer from TNPCB and two members of IIT-Madras to supervise the plant.

NGT had said the closure order was passed by TNPCB in an "abrupt manner" based on "mere apprehension" of leakage of gas, without any scientific data to support the same.
Besides seeking quashing of the NGT's order, TNPCB has challenged its jurisdiction to hear Sterlite's plea.

TNPCB had defended its order and maintained that the plant emits toxic gases and complaints against it were genuine.