With the Supreme Court expected to deliver its judgment on Sterlite Copper case on Monday, security has been stepped up here.
Earlier, the apex court reserved its judgment on February 7, after a Bench comprising Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Navin Sinha heard the submissions of the State, Vedanta and other parties, including MDMK general secretary Vaiko, on an appeal filed by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board against an order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) allowing reopening of Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi.
“Lakhs of people have registered their protest earlier. We now hope the plant is permanently removed from here,” said M. Krishnamoorthy of Anti-Sterlite Tamils Federation.
“The closure of the plant has hit people badly. If the industry is hit, then the entire industrial climate of Thoothukudi will be adversely affected, even as the city has a situation conducive for industrial growth. If there are issues, they can always be rectified,” said T. Velsankar, president of Thoothukudi Stevedores Association.
The NGT order made a number of recommendations, including creating a 25-metre-wide green belt around the plant and norms for monitoring groundwater and ambient air quality in the area.
The order was not implemented as an appeal was filed with the Supreme Court.
Sources said around 1,600 police personnel, led by south zone IG K.P. Shanmuga Rajeswaran, DIG (Tirunelveli range) Kapil Kumar Saratkar, Tirunelveli Superintendent of Police Arunsakthi Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Suguna Singh and Thoothukudi Superintendent of Police Murali Rambha, would be deployed in the area.
Published - February 18, 2019 09:00 am IST
