Centre, state colluding to reopen Sterlite, accuses DMK

Stalin urged the Centre to immediately withdraw the groundwater investigation report of the Union Water Resources Ministry. He expressed shock over the ruling BJP acting against the interest of seven crore people of Tamil Nadu by conducting a study in favour of a private firm even as the related case was pending before the Supreme Court, High Court and National Green Tribunal.

Taking strong exception to the letter state Chief Secretary had written to the Centre, opposing the groundwater investigation report, the LoP, who is also the president of DMK, advised the ruling AIADMK to immediately move the apex court and obtain an interim injunction for the report instead of writing letters through the Chief Secretary.

Blaming the state government for Sterlite being allowed to access the administrative portion of the plant, Stalin said the collusion of the state with the Centre was exposed by it writing through the CS despite being apprised of the groundwater investigation of Union Water Resource Ministry by the state intelligence machinery.

 Stalin also suggested that the report be rejected in the state cabinet. Charging the ruling AIADMK with being a mute spectator to the NGT constituting a committee without a representative of Tamil Nadu and supporting the Centre conduct the groundwater investigation study, Stalin said, “The letter written through the Chief Secretary was a mere diversionary tactics employed to deceive and misguide the state people.”

He also criticised the state government for ignoring his and Madras High Court’s suggestion that a policy decision be taken by the state cabinet to close down the Sterlite plant.