Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami categorically stated in the Assembly on Monday that Sterlite Copper, a smelter owned by the Vedanta group in Thoothukudi that has been closed and sealed by the authorities, cannot be reopened by anyone.
While replying to DMK working president and Opposition leader M.K. Stalin during Zero Hour in the House, Mr. Palaniswami cited the Government Order regarding the “permanent” closure of the plant and said that the G.O. alone was sufficient to end its operations forever. The government decided to shut down the plant soon after 13 people were killed in police firing during an anti-Sterlite rally undertaken in Thoothukudi last month.
Supply of power and water to the company had been disconnected, Mr. Palaniswami noted, and turned down Mr. Stalin’s plea for adoption of a House resolution against the company.
Mr. Stalin had demanded a resolution, arguing that there was a possibility of the firm moving the court to reopen the plant. But, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam pointed out that the State government had filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that no unilateral order was passed in Vedanta group’s favour.
When Mr. Stalin sought to know why the State government was hesitant to pass a resolution this time while it had done so in the past in the matter of jallikattu and NEET, Mr. Panneerselvam contended that those issues involved the Centre but this was not the case with the Sterlite plant.