Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu will stay shut, Supreme Court rules 

The Starlite Copper plant at Thoothukudi.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Monday, ruled that the controversial Sterlite copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu, closed last year over alleged pollution, will stay shut.

Sterlite, the company owned by the Vedanta Group, requested for permission to reopen the copper plant in Thoothukudi district. The top court was hearing Vedanta group’s request for a direction to Tamil Nadu’s pollution control body to implement an order by the National Green Tribunal which allowed the copper plant to reopen.

While the case is seen as politically sensitive, the Tamil Nadu government approached the top court against the green court’s order.

In its ruling, the apex court said the green court has no jurisdiction to entertain the case. Sterlite can approach the Madras high court with its request for permission to reopen the copper plant.

The order to shut the copper plant of Sterlite led to violent protests in May last year, culminating in police opening fire on demonstrators and killing 13, which further led the state pollution control board to seal and “permanently” close the plant.

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