The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed Vedanta to stop the construction of Unit II of its Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi in south Tamil Nadu. Ten persons were killed in a police firing when a massive rally taken out demanding the closure of the unit turned violent.
Passing interim orders on a public interest litigation petition filed by R. Fatima of Thoothukudi in the Madurai Bench of the High Court, a Division Bench of Justices M. Sundar and Anita Sumanth ordered that the company’s plea for renewal of environment clearance should be processed within four months after conducting a public hearing.
Making it clear that the process should be completed before September 23, the judges said that Vedanta should cease the construction of the unit till then.
The orders in the case were reserved in the Madurai Bench last week and delivered in the principal seat of the High Court in Chennai.
Published - May 23, 2018 01:12 pm IST
