Closure GO enough, no need for resolution: CM to Stalin

“Sterlite won’t be able to reopen its plant here,” Palaniswami asserted.

Insisting for an Assembly resolution on the lines of NEET exemption and Jallikattu, Stalin expressed his doubts over the closure pointing out that the company could get such orders overturned by the Court in the past during the times of both the DMK and the AIADMK regimes following closure.

Stalin called for utilisation of fine collected from Sterlite for polluting the environment to increase the compensation paid to the victims of police firing in Thoothukudi.

“The Supreme Court imposed Rs 100 crore fines against Sterlite which is now collected and at the discretion of the Thoothukudi Collector. The government has announced an enhanced compensation

of Rs 20 lakh for the kin of the deceased and it should be further enhanced by Rs 80 lakh each and the injured should get Rs 50 lakh – Rs 25 lakh. There is no bar in utilising the funds and it would be apt to utilise the funds in this manner as these are one of the ways of corrective measures,” Stalin said.

The LoP noted that the protesters booked by the government are not anti-socials as projected and the police were doing door-to-door inquiry which furthered the angst of the local community opposing Sterlite. Echoing the views of Stalin, Congress leader KR Ramasamy also sought the government to drop all the cases against the protesters.

Stalin wanted to know whether action would be taken on those police in plainclothes opening fire on civilians. In reply, the CM reiterated that the government asserted that there was no need for such resolutions and that the state has all powers required to close the plant permanently.

“Since the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) hasn’t passed any orders on Sterlite issue, the orders passed by the state is valid. In addition, the government has also cancelled the Boiler licence of the plant while it has already cancelled the power and water supply to the plant. We have also cancelled the land allocation for Sterlite plant expansion. All licences issued to Sterlite are cancelled,” Palaniswami said.

Justifying the arrests, the CM said those who campaigned with petrol bombs and clubs are not protesters but anti-socials who would be subjected to action. “No arrest is made without any video evidence.

There is no bar to protest in the state which accounted for most number of protests on a nationwide comparison. Action would be taken based on the recommendations of the probe panel,” he said. He added that the company has also flouted several norms laid down by the government.

Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, who joined issue with Stalin, reiterated that state’s orders were foolproof and there was no need for a resolution. “That industry would remain shut forever and the government is firm on it,” he said.