The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved for judgment an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government against a National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision to re-open Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi.
A Bench of Justices Rohinton F. Nariman and Navin Sinha heard the submissions of the State, Vedanta and parties including MDMK leader Vaiko, who expressed concern over the plight of the people protesting against the plant, which is accused of being a source of environmental pollution in the area.
Tamil Nadu contended that Vedanta indulged in ‘quick-fixes’ every time an environmental violation by plant was pointed out to it. Vedanta, in turn, had countered that the State was bent on harassing the company for political motives.
The Tamil Nadu government has alleged in the Supreme Court that pollution from the plant went up steadily along with increase in production.
The State alleged that the NGT failed to consider the data, documents and evidence before directing the Board to pass fresh orders of renewal of consent and issue authorisation to Vedanta to handle hazardous substances.
The State argued that the tribunal went outside the four walls of the statute governing its functions to appoint the Justice Tarun Aggarwala Committee to prepare a report in the case.
The State contended in its appeal that Vedanta did not comply with pollution norms, and the situation had severely deteriorated since 1996.