Making its submission before the three-member committee set up by the National Green Tribunal to consider Vedanta’s plea seeking the reopening of the Sterlite copper smelter on Monday, the company’s counsel said that the people of Thoothukudi were not protesting against the existing plant and were only opposed to its expansion.
The company submitted around 45,000 petitions from residents of Thoothukudi who did not want the plant to be permanently shut. Counsel for Vedanta P.S. Raman said those in favour of resumption of operations at the plant included its workers. The committee comprising Tarun Agrawal, former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, Satish C. Garkoti, Scientist, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and H.D. Varalaxmi, Senior Environmental Engineer, Central Pollution Control Board, held a hearing at the Southern Bench of the NGT here on Monday after a two-day visit to Thoothukudi. “All activities are being monitored by the State Pollution Control Board. People are protesting against the expansion and not the existing firm,” Mr. Raman said.
S. Thyagarajan, president of the Thoothukudi Contractors Association, who also appeared for the hearing, alleged that the protests were being orchestrated by a group of people who did not even reside in the area. “We have all been living there for decades. Nothing has happened to us,” he said.
‘Money power at play’
However, speaking to mediapersons later, MDMK leader Vaiko alleged that Sterlite had the money power and it could get as many representations as possible. “If they [committee] go and ask every person in all the streets of Thoothukudi, they would know the truth. The brutal death of 13 people was not in vain,” he said.
“The company has the money, the power and the ability to bring people from the area and dictate their testimonies. The voice of the victims is silenced and the environment continues to deteriorate. Sterlite is an environmental disaster and the authorities must take strict measures against the violators,” Mr. Vaiko said.
The panel heard only arguments from Sterlite’s counsel on Monday. When Mr. Vaiko wanted to intervene and place his arguments on behalf of those opposing the plant, the committee said it would give him time on October 5 when it will hear the anti-Sterlite group’s arguments.
