Tamil Nadu will probe impact of Sterlite operations, says TN environment minister

Chennai: State minister for environment K.C. Karupannan on Saturday said that the state government has instituted an inquiry to find out the environmental impact, if any, related to the operations of the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi.

In a detailed statement, the minister clarified that that the district collector and the officials of Tamil Nadu pollution control board were periodically monitoring the factory and its discharge through various pollution control mechanisms. The Centre and the ministry of environment and forests gave its environment clearance for the Sterlite 20 years back and subsequently Tamil Nadu pollution control board also gave its clearance order to operate till March 31, 2018. Under these circumstances the Sterlite issue has faced lawsuits and there were direction for both the state and the Sterlite issued and followed till now. Sterlite had also approached the state seeking clearance for the its phase two expansion projects in the Thoothukudi special economic zone.

Based on the facts and reports compiled by the district collector and the pollution monitoring authorities, appropriate action will be taken, the minister said in his statement. Though the minister admitted that there were public complaints seeking the closure of the factory, the statement said that the court of law in 2010 and in 2013 after hearing several cases permitted the factory to operate with safety norms and revised environment guidelines.