Govt officials condemn Thoothukudi Collector over Sterlite Copper, send letter to CS

Joining issue with anti-sterlite protesters, who have been demanding permanent closure of the plant for the past few months, the government officials condemned Collector N Venkatesh for not allowing to take decisions against the company.

In their letter which was recently sent to Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, the officials stated that residents of several villages surrounding Thoothukudi had brought resolutions against Sterlite during the Grama Sabha meetings held on May 1. However, the Collector compelled officials overseeing the meeting to not accept the resolutions. As a result, resolutions in several villages were not passed. Officials also entered arguments with villagers in few places, the letter stated.

Upping their ante against the Collector, the officials have decided to boycott a government function on May 11, in which Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is scheduled to inaugurate the second drinking water pipeline project in Kovilpatti.

The decision by government officials to skip the Chief Minister’s function, while shocking the higher officials, has been welcomed by those campaigning against the private company. “The anti-sterlite protests are going on for more than three months and if officials support us, our agitation would definitely be a successful one,” said a protester.

Demanding permanent closure of Sterlite Copper, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Monday said that it is the practice of developed countries to dump polluting and harmful industries in developing countries. He cited examples like Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and Sterlite Copper. Participating in an agitation in Thoothukudi, he said, “Youngsters should come forward to protest against such harmful projects and there should be unity in protests to succeed.”