High Court stays expansion of Sterlite copper smelter plant

Chennai: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday stayed the expansion of the Vedanta's copper smelter plant in Tuticorin district, amid a continuing agitation against the plant.

A bench comprising Justice M Sundar and Justice Anitha Sumanth passed the order staying construction of Vedanta's (formerly Sterlite Industries Limited) second unit in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, on a petition filed by environmental activist Fathima Babu.

The bench also directed the Central government to submit within four months a report after holding a public hearing in the district to invite public opinion on the plan for expansion.

Sterlite had got consent to construct the second unit, as the existing unit remained shut for nearly two months now after the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board refused to renew its approval to operate (CTO) the unit. See P7