Consent for Sterlite's expansion plans scrapped

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has cancelled its Consent to Establish and Expansion (CTE) granted in 2016 to beleaguered Sterlite Copper for expansion of its smelter unit in Thoothukudi.

The move by the Tamil Nadu's environment regulator comes a fortnight after the state government issued an order shutting down the plant permanently following the killing of 13 people in police firing when the anti-Sterlite protests turned violent on May 22.

In response to an application filed by S P Muthuraman of Tirunelveli district seeking cancellation of CTE granted to Sterlite Copper, the TNPCB said it has withdrawn the clearance issued to the company in 2016 with effect from June 7.

"It is informed that after SIPCOT cancelled the land allotment order for expansion (of Sterlite Copper), the TNPCB has withdrawn the CTE issued to the aforesaid company with effect from June 7, 2018," the letter sent to Muthuraman said.

Sterlite's plans to expand its smelter unit at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore triggered fresh protests against the Vedanta-owned group in Thoothukudi with villages close to the plant erupting in protests.

Protests that began in mid-February turned violent on their 100th day leading to police firing.

Two days after police firing, the TNPCB suspended power supply to the plant and four days later, the government shut the plant permanently.