Govt will act only after final verdict is given, says Edappadi K Palaniswami
Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami reiterated in the Assembly that his government is committed to its decision on permanently closing down the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi. The government will take an appropriate decision after receiving the Supreme Court order copy, he said on Tuesday.
The opposition DMK, which had raised the issue on the concluding day of the brief Assembly session, however boycotted the Chief Minister's response to the issue by staging a walk out. A visibly upset CM said, “Only today the case came up before the Supreme Court. The government can convey its view only after receiving the order copy. The government can't react based on media reports. In fact, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani had clearly explained to the DMK members when they raised the issue (earlier in the day). The government will act after getting the order copy and after ascertaining the facts.”
Explaining further, Mr Palaniswami said the State government's appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the Dec. 15, 2018 order of the NGT favouring reopening of the Sterlite plant in the southern district, came up for hearing on Tuesday, and the court had ordered notice to Sterlite.
"Under this circumstances, the Tamil Nadu government would consider taking appropriate action only when the final verdict is delivered in the case. Stalin had come to the Assembly only to find an excuse to stage a walk out and accordingly he had walked out of the House," Mr. Palaniswami said.
Earlier, leader of the opposition in the Assembly and DMK president M. K. Stalin referred to today's Supreme Court order declining to stay the green court order to reopen the Sterlite copper smelter plant, and sought to know the steps the State government would take to ensure its GO on closure prevails. Faulting the government for not convening the Cabinet to formulate a policy on the issue, he said much could have been gained had the government taken a clear policy decision.
“Under this circumstances, the Tamil Nadu government would consider taking appropriate action only when the final verdict is delivered in the case. Stalin had come to the Assembly only to find an excuse to stage a walk out and accordingly he had walked out of the House,” Palaniswami said.
Earlier, leader of the opposition in the Assembly and DMK president M.K. Stalin referred to Tuesday’s Supreme Court order declining to stay the green court order to reopen the Sterlite copper smelter plant, and sought to know the steps the State government would take to ensure its GO on closure prevails. Faulting the government for not convening the Cabinet to formulate a policy on the issue, he said much could have been gained had the government taken a clear policy decision.
Contending that the government had no plans to oppose Vedanta group, Stalin said he would stage a walk out along with his party members. As he was about to lead his DMK members out of the House, Thangamani intervened and said, “Our view is no different from yours. We too want the plant to be shut permanently. The government can react only upon receiving the order copy.”
The DMK members resumed their seats only to stage a walk out before the CM could speak on the issue. Shortly thereafter, ally Congress and the lone IUML member too walked out.
