The recent direction of National Green Tribunal (NGT) to open Sterlite Copper for administrative purposes had created tension among the residents of Thoothukudi, said renowned green activist Fatima Babu in Thoothukudi on Friday.
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Chennai:
Addressing reporters, Fatima Babu said that there are strong reasons for shutting down Sterlite Copper and the state government should put forth such reasons before the NGT during the argument. “There are many strong reasons other than those mentioned in the Government Order (GO) and the state government should present them in the argument, she said.
She also demanded the government to appoint an expert committee which should not be biased and should be concerned towards the cause of the people. The experts should properly test the samples and should bring the results out.
She further said that the state government should also take a policy decision not to allow copper smelting plants in the state as they cause huge destruction to the surrounding areas. The protest committee had also collected medical data from every resident of Kumareddiyapuram and Pandarampatti villages, located near the Sterlite Copper and will continue to collect the medical data from all the nearby villages to assess the problem of pollution and to make the case much stronger, said Fatima Babu.
Speaking on the recent NGT direction which allowed Sterlite Copper to open the plant for administrative purposes, Fatima Babu said that it is saddening to know that Court had given direction to open the plant. The direction had caused confusion and tension in Thoothukudi as people fear that Sterlite Copper might slowly be re-opened, and all their efforts would be wasted. She also said that at present, a legal battle is going on to shutdown Sterlite Copper permanently and if Sterlite is reopened even for administrative purposes people cannot be controlled and a much bigger protest will happen.
Kadambur Raju says Green Tribunal order in tune with GO
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its direction refused to interfere in the Government Order (GO) passed by the state government and refused to give instructions to reopen Sterlite Copper, said state Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur C Raju in Thoothukudi on Friday. Replying to a query on the directions given by the NGT on Sterlite Copper, the Minister said that the direction is still in favour of the state government as the tribunal refused to interfere in the GO.
The NGT had also refused to grant permission to reopen Sterlite Copper which indicates that the direction of the NGT is in line with the state government. Govt favours Sterlite, says CPM The state government is favouring Sterlite Copper by not putting up a strong argument against the company in the NGT, said U Vasuki, CPM Polit Bureau Member, in Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district on Friday. Addressing reporters, Vasuki said that in the May 22 police firing incident not a single case had been filed against policemen. While the state government passed a GO to shutdown Sterlite Copper, it is now supporting Sterlite Copper by not presenting strong facts against the company in the NGT. The direction given by the NGT allowing Sterlite Copper to open for administrative purposes shows that Sterlite Copper is trying to gain entry through the backdoors with indirect support of the state government, she said.