Awaiting TNPCB nod to restart Sterlite, says CEO
After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ruled in favour of Sterlite Copper, CEO of the company P Ramnath on Thursday said that Sterlite management has approached Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to obtain a certificate of consent of operation.
By : migrator
Update: 2018-12-21 02:57 GMT
Chennai
“Based on the NGT verdict, we have filed an application before the TNPCB for consent certificate and once it is obtained, we will reopen the plant. We are confident that the plant will be reopened soon,” said Ramnath, in Chennai.
After coming victorious in the NGT, Ramnath, in a press meet, said that decks are cleared for reopening the plant but the functions in the plant will be delayed as it remained closed for six months. “After obtaining the consent certificate the plant has to be taken back to the condition that it was before six months as it was not maintained in allthese months. It will take at least two months for the company to start the operations,” said Ramnath.
Replying to a question on the Tamil Nadu government moving the Supreme Court against the NGT order, Ramnath said the company was prepared to face the case. “Even if the State government opposed it, we will abide by the stipulations of the NGT order,” he added.
He also said that Sterlite has planned for greening of Thoothukudi. “When we asked the opinion of the people on what they expect from Sterlite they demanded the company officials to improve the environment of Thoothukudi and based on their demand we have decided to plant one million trees in Thoothukudi,” said Ramnath.
He further said that Sterlite has better emission of sulphur in the entire world as it stands second next to a German based company. “German company emits 4 kg of sulphur per tonne of copper produced and Sterlite emits 4.6 kg of sulphur per tonne of copper produced,” said Ramnath.
When asked whether Sterlite has any plans to distribute compensation for the family of 13 people killed in police firing in the anti-Sterlite protest on May 22, this year, Ramnath replied that they are ready to give the same compensation amount that was given by the state government.
When asked how the company would manage water resources after reopening the plant, Ramnath replied that we have planned to construct a desalination plant and will completely avoid using water from Tamirabarani River.
10 Thoothukudi students held for protest attempt
Triplicane police on Thursday detained as many as 10 students from Thoothukudi, who attempted to stage a protest at Chepauk without permission.
Following the National Green Tribunal’s latest order allowing the reopening of Sterlite’s copper smelter plant, Thoothukudi is slowly turning into a boiling point and the students travelled to Chennai to garner public attention towards the issue, said police.
Based on a tip-off that the youngsters of a students’ organisation are arriving at Chepauk, a team of police personnel who were waiting at the spot rounded them up and took them into a vehicle as soon as they landed there with charts and banners with messages against Sterlite. The students started shouting slogans while being taken in the vehicle. Among them, three were school students.
Triplicane police confirmed that the students were let off on Thursday evening.
On December 15, the NGT dismissed the state government’s pleas and ordered the reopening of the plant. Following this, various sets of anti-Sterlite organisations have resorted to intense protests. The state government, in turn, has decided to appeal against the order in the Supreme Court.
On May 28, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board ordered the closure of the Sterlite plant with immediate effect and directed Tangedco to disconnect electricity supply to the unit. The decision came after 13 people were killed in police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters on May 22.
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