The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman refused mining giant Vedanta’s plea for the immediate reopening of the Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin. The court denied the interim relief and postponed the case for a detailed hearing in January 2021.
Vedanta approached the Apex Court challenging the Madras High Court decision of rejection to open Sterlite Tuticorn plant. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Vedanta submitted in the court that the plant provide employment to 4000 people and fulfills 36% or country copper needs and said that India is dependent on imports of copper after the shut down
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board said that the plant is a consistent polluter and on this ground the plant was shut down in 2018 which led to protests. The protests took violent turn and let to casualties of civilians. The village people of Tuticorin are also against the reopening of plant and said that the plant polluted the drinking water and many people contracted cancer due to this. They also said that even HC ruled about such plant not being set up in residential zones.
In 2019 SC rejected the order of NGT of opening the plant saying that they do not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case. But after all these Vedanta was allowed to move to HC against the orders passed against it.
