Local community divided over reopening of Sterlite unit

On Monday, several groups, pro and against the Vedanta’s unit, thronged the collectorate to submit petitions pressing their demands. While anti-Sterlite protester Fathima Babu and cadre of various political parties submitted a petition urging the State Government to enact a legislation for the plant’s permanent closure, other industry stakeholders welcomed the decision and said it would boost the local economy.

Fathima Babu, who was accompanied by representatives of Thoothukudi Central Merchants Association, sought the intervention of District Collector Sandeep Nanduri while urging the government to convene the assembly and enact a special Act.

In another petition, Fathima urged the government to initiate action over the alleged leak of NGT’s order copy. She said it was a very serious breach of judicial confidence and process, which seems to have been committed by Vedanta and its consultant. She also sought a special Grama sabha or referendum to be conducted to register the opinion of people. Such a move could give greater meaning and purpose to government’s stand to close down the hazardous plant and save the town from further damage, the petition stated.

Cadres of Communist Party of India (Marxist) led by its district secretary K S Arjunan, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Naam Tamilar Katchi also submitted their petitions pressing a similar demand. They raised slogans demanding the government to enact the special Act. A large posse of policemen were stationed at the collectorate as a precautionary measure.

On the other side, however, the Chemical Industries Association has appealed to the State Government to enable the unit to be reopened at the earliest. According to its vice president V Ghurumurthy, the chemical industry was under tremendous stress due to material availability in the domestic market.

“We welcome the NGT order allowing the Vedanta group’s plant in Thoothukudi to resume its copper smelter operation. This order would help in fulfilling the ‘Make in India’ initiative and enable the country to be self-sustainable,” he said.

Stating the resuming of operations would mean employment for many workers who lost their jobs due to the unit’s closure, Tuticorin Stevedores’ Association President T Velshankar said, “The seaport has also seen a huge drop in its handling of dry bulk volume and the subsequent revenue. Now that the NGT has cleared the company of all allegations, the government must quickly reopen the plant and protect the economy of Thoothukudi and the livelihood of people,” he said.

The closure of Sterlite has certainly disrupted livelihoods of truck operators, booking agents, and workers, who are eagerly waiting for resumption of operations, said S Varadharajan, secretary, Thoothukudi District Container Truck Owners Association.

“Around 100 tipper lorries would be engaged in transporting raw material such as copper ore and rock phosphate daily from the offloading point at VOC Port to the plant when it was functional. Besides, several tanker lorries would be engaged in transporting liquid cargo such as sulphuric acid and by-products like gypsum,” Varadharajan said.