NGT says closure of Sterlite plant 'unjustifiable', directs Vedanta to spend Rs 100 cr on welfare

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Saturday set aside the Tamil Nadu government's order to permanently close mining company Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite Copper plant, saying it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified".
A bench headed by NGT chairperson AK Goel asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to pass a fresh order for renewal of consent and authorisation to handle hazardous substances, subject to appropriate conditions for protection of the environment in accordance with law within three weeks from Saturday.
The tribunal allowed the appeal of the company challenging closure of its Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
The Tribunal also directed mining company Vedanta Ltd to spend Rs 100 crore over a span of three years for "welfare activities".
Following the NGT's order, state chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that they will challenge the tribunal's order in the Supreme Court .
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On Monday, the tribunal had reserved its order on a plea by the mining company challenging closure of its Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu, where a massive protest was witnessed in May against alleged pollution by the factory.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel had said the order would be uploaded on the tribunal's website next week.
At least 13 people were killed and several injured on May 22 when police had opened fire on a crowd staging protest in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
The company had earlier offered before the tribunal that it would invest Rs 100 crore in Tuticorin for the welfare of people, including construction of schools, hospitals and supply of drinking water.
It had said this amount would be in addition to the Rs 10 crore spent by the company annually in social work under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The tribunal had earlier set up an independent committee to look into the allegations of environmental pollution by Vedanta-owned Sterlite copper factory.
On August 9, the tribunal had allowed Vedanta to enter administrative unit inside its plant at Tuticorin, observing that no environmental damage would be caused by allowing access to the section.
The green panel had, however, said the plant would remain closed and the company would not have access to its production unit and directed the district magistrate to ensure this.
On July 30, the court had refused to grant any interim relief to Vedanta, which had challenged the Tamil Nadu government's order to permanently shut down its plant, even as the firm termed the government action "political".
On July 5, the tribunal had issued notices to the state government and the pollution board seeking their response after Tamil Nadu raised preliminary objections with regard to the maintainability of Vedanta's plea.
The state government had, on May 28, ordered the state pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the mining group's copper plant following violent protests over pollution concerns.
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