MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Saturday said that the Sterlite plant had dumped copper slag at several places in Thoothukudi including at a patta land near Uppar Odai.
Addressing reporters after holding a discussion with the NGT panel during the inspection of the site, Mr. Vaiko said that the land has been raised by 20-30 feet using the copper slag. “The slag would get mixed with drinking water as it reaches ponds,” he said.
Further, he said that silt and other types of soil were dumped on the slag to cover it. “We said that the plant should be closed as copper slag is hazardous, regardless of where it is kept,” he said.
He said that a few advocates representing Sterlite had requested that about 25 employees be allowed to accompany the panel when it visited the plant on Saturday morning. “The judge said that a decision would be taken after discussion with the Collector,” he said.
He said that the advocates claimed that the copper slag was given to private parties, and the company had no role to play. “Sterlite and the [private] party had joined hands in connivance,” he said.