CM has sought report on struggle: Minister

Even as the anti-Sterlite stir is gaining momentum, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has reportedly sought a comprehensive report on the struggle and the proposed expansion of the copper smelter unit.

During an informal chat with the reporters on the sidelines of the AIADMK’s fast organised here on Tuesday for the Cauvery Management Board, Minister for Information ‘Kadambur’ C. Raju said the district administration’s comprehensive report on the agitations and the permission granted for the expansion of the unit would be submitted shortly. An appropriate decision would be taken, he said.

“When the copper manufacturing unit caused health hazards, then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa ordered its closure. However, they got the permission from the Supreme Court to operate the plant. So the State government will not support anything that would affect the public,” Mr. Raju said.

Meanwhile, leaders of a few political parties visited A. Kumareddiyarpuram where the anti-Sterlite agitation entered the 51st day on Tuesday.

When a team of government officials came to the village to clean and deepen the borewell as part of the ongoing district-wide work ahead of the summer, the villagers opposed it saying that the officials, by cleaning the borewell, were trying to portray that the groundwater had not been affected by Sterlite Copper’s effluents.

After being sent back by the villagers, the officials came to the village in the night, accompanied by a few policemen, only to be chased away again.