After Cutting Power Supply, Tamil Nadu Government Wants Permanent Closure Of Vedanta Sterlite Plant In Thoothukudi

Amid attempts by Vedanta to reopen it's controversial copper plant in Thoothukudi, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has ordered the closure of Sterlite copper factory.

TNPCB said,?the smelter, which was shut pending renewal of its operating license, was found last week to be preparing to resume production without permission.

PTI

"...it has been found that the unit was carrying out activities to resume production operations... The unit of Vedanta Ltd has been disconnected with power and closed with immediately,"? the closure order reads.?

Earlier, the power supply to the factory was disconnected amid the growing anger among public following the police shooting that left 13 people dead.

BCCL

The police had fired at crowds of locals and environmentalists protesting against the copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi, which they say was polluting their ground water.

Meanwhile, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said, the company would like to continue the business at the plant with the 'wish' of the community. In a video posted on Twitter,? Agarwal described the loss of 13 lives in police firing demanding the closure of a copper factory as 'unfortunate'.

PTI

"I am very sad to hear the incident... This was absolutely unfortunate. My full sympathy is with the families (of the deceased)," Agarwal said.

The Supreme Court on Friday said a writ petition seeking a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged police firing matter in Thoothukudi will be heard on Monday.

Reuters

After days of violence, Thoothukudi is limping back to normalcy with resumption of bus services today and reopening of shops.

No fresh incidents of violence have been reported from Thoothukudi on Friday, despite a shutdown called by the opposition parties to protest the police brutality.