Chennai: The state government on Saturday asserted that the Sterlite's copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi will not be re-opened as its policy decision to seal the Vedanta Ltd unit was in line with people's sentiments.
This comes on a day when a three-member panel appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and led by former Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Tarun Agrawal, has visited the copper smelter plant in the southern district.
“Our stand is that once it is closed, it is closed. A policy decision was taken by the government and based on that the plant was sealed. They (Vedanta) have moved the NGT against the sealing and a panel was formed. We have moved the Supreme Court saying not even that panel is required,” fisheries minister D. Jayakumar told reporters here.
He said the local people were against the plant, and hence the government took a decision to close it down “in line with the sentiments of the people of Thoothukudi.”
“Once closed, it is closed. There is no chance of re-opening it by the government,” he asserted. The Tamil Nadu government had ordered permanent closure of the copper smelter plant on environment grounds in the wake of protests by locals.
