SC order against Sterlite reopening evokes mixed reaction in Thoothukudi, activist missing

The Supreme Court order setting aside the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive to reopen the Sterlite plant received mixed response from both the factions of the people, who protested against the plant citing environmental concerns and from stakeholders relying on the copper smelter plant for their livelihoods on Monday.

While in the wake of the verdict, Sterlite protesters burst crackers and distributed sweets. Welcoming the verdict, a Thoothukudi based environmental activist, M Krishnamurthi, said that although it was not seen as a full verdict, the people of Thoothukudi are happy over the outcome and view it as the first step to the victory. He said that the government and politicians should not stake claim in the victory of the people. 

Further, he said that he contacted Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri and thanked the district administration for its role in the closure. No corporate social responsibility work should be carried out by the district administration in the name of Sterlite and should not allow any maintenance work inside the plant, he said. Stating that the 22-year struggle against Sterlite had finally bore fruit, Edmund Thennavan, a resident of Thoothukudi, said that victory is not only for the people of Thoothukudi and Tamil Nadu but for all the Tamilians across the world, since protests were widespread at locations including in front of the residence of proprietor of Sterlite, in London. 

Claiming that the closure of Sterlite has sent a wrong signal to investors in Thoothukudi, President of Tuticorin Stevedores Association, T Velsankar said, the downstream plants were also affected owing to lack of raw material, which was catered largely by Sterlite. Citing the verdict as a major blow to the logistics industry which solely relied on Sterlite, S Murugan, Joint Secretary, Tuticorin Lorry Owners Association, said that the closure of the plant has turned the lives of around 10,000 families miserable. Besides, the future of several workers, who were indirectly dependent on the plant, turned bleak. 

Tuticorin District Container Truck Owners Association Secretary S Varadharajan said, the logistics industry relied on the industrial cargo of Sterlite for livelihood support of truck owners. On average a month, about two lakh tonnes of cargo such as rock phosphate, copper ore, sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid would be transported.

The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the police on a habeas corpus plea moved to produce a social activist who had gone missing after raising allegations against two top cops for their role in the Thoothukudi firing incident that claimed 13 lives. A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice M Nirmal Kumar, before whom the plea came up for hearing on Monday, directed the police to file a report by Friday. The plea contended that Mugilan, alias Shanmugam, coordinator, Tamil Nadu Environment Movement, had spent almost a year meticulously researching the reasons behind the police firing in Thoothukudi on May 22, 2018

Activists who are closely associated with anti-sterlite activist, Mugilan, suspect the police department behind the suspicious missing of Mugilan. 

Speaking to DT Next, Gunaseelan, an activist and a close associate of Mugilan said, “We have a strong suspicion on police department. Police might not have predicted the Supreme Court verdict coming in favour of the state government and to prevent any further protest he might have been arrested.”

Mugilan addressed a press meet against Sterlite Copper where he provided video claiming that the premises of Thoothukudi Collector office and the residential quarters of Sterlite employees were torched not by the protesters but by the men associated with Sterlite. 

The video created a strong criticism against the company among the activists who started demanding the government to take action against the private company. After addressing the press meet Mugilan boarded a train to Madurai on Friday evening but went missing. For more than three days, Mugilan could not be traced and the activists suspect police action in this case. Gunaseelan said that expecting a negative verdict large number of policemen were stationed at Thoothukudi to prevent another set of protests and in the same line would have illegally detained Mugilan but now after the positive verdict they might put false case on him and would bring him to a court. 

Kar Muhilan, son of Mugilan, said that they have no idea about his father and though there may be many rumours we have trusted the legal system to bring him out. Meanwhile, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko feared that Mugilan might have been killed in fake encounter by the police are should have been illegally detained by the police. “Whatever happens to Mugilan, the Sterlite management and the police should hold the responsibility,” Vaiko stressed.