Vedanta moves HC seeking protection for Sterlite unit

Sterlite Copper, a unit of Vedanta Resources, which is in the eye of a storm following agitations against the commissioning of an additional copper smelter in Thoothukudi, has moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking police protection for its premises.

The petitioner, A. Satyapriya, General Manager (Legal), said that Vedanta is one of the world’s largest diversified natural resource companies engaged in exploring, extracting and processing minerals and commercial power. With the addition of a second copper smelter plant, the Thoothukudi plant would be the single largest copper smelting unit in India.

He added that the company was functioning in Thoothukudi for over 20 years and was an important source of income for the State.

Necessary approvals and clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Pollution Control Board, Fire and Rescue Services department, Health department and local planning authority had been obtained for the expansion, the petitioner said and sought police protection for the Thoothukudi unit.

The petitioner said that in the wake of “false propaganda and baseless rumours being spread against the company,” police protection was necessary to avoid any untoward incident.