Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) ordered closure of the Tuticorin copper smelting plant of Sterlite Industries, part of Vedanta Resources group, with immediate effect, and power supply to the plant has been cut off, a company official said.
“The TNPCB issued the order to shut down the plant with immediate effect and the power utility yesterday night disconnected the power supply to the plant. We are in the process of stopping operations,” an official said over phone from Tuticorin, 600km from here.
According to him, it will take around two days to fully shut down the plant. The plant’s operations include the smelter, a refinery, and production of phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, and copper rods. Presently the plant is run with a captive power unit.
The TNPCB order comes after the leakage of noxious gas from the plant March 23, leading to nausea and skin irritation among a section of people.
Subsequently, there were protests and the district administration had ordered an inquiry into the incident.
An official of TNPCB in Tuticorin said the order was issued by his head office here. However, senior officials were not available for comments.
“The people here are celebrating the closure order. They are confident that the closure will be permanent one and not an interim measure,” environmental activist Fatima Babu said over phone from Tuticorin.
She said: “People may revolt against the plant if it is allowed to function after the March 23 incident. They have seen their loved ones suffer from nausea, sore throat and other problems inside their homes so the protests will be much more vigorous if the plant starts functioning again.”
IANS
