Chennai: DMK asks TN govt to protect people in Tuticorin district from pollution caused by Sterlite plant

CHENNAI: The DMK on Monday asked the Tamil Nadu government to order Sterlite Industries to close its unit in Tuticorin district if it continues to pollute the area. He urged the government to protect the people in the district from the pollution caused by the company’s copper plant.
In a statement, DMK working president M K Stalin said, "Sterlite Industries is polluting the Thamirabarani river as well as soil, making it difficult for the farmers to cultivate crops. The DMK will support the protests against the company by local people."

He said people's health was affected and many of them were not able to breathe properly. Some of them were also affected by skin problems, he said.

"Ground water has copper, arsenic, fluoride and chrome," he said.

The DMK leader accused Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board of not taking proper steps to prevent the company from polluting the area.

"At this stage, the government must not give its nod for expansion of the company and steps must be taken to check violations by the company," said Stalin.