The New Delhi-based National Green Tribunal (NGT), which deals with expeditious disposal of environment protection-related cases, has announced that it would pronounce its verdict in a week’s time on whether to allow the Tuticorin-based Sterlite Industries to continue to operate further.

The Tribunal, which heard the arguments of both the parties last Friday during its final spell of interrogtion, reserved its judgment and postponed the next hearing to Monday (yesterday). During yesterday’s hearing, MDMK general secreatry Vaiko argued strongly stating he should also be included as one of the petitioners in the case which has the danger of threatening the livelihood of denizens of Tuticorin.

Counsel for the Govt. of Tamil Nadu argued that Sterlite didn’t bother about polluting groundwater which would adversely affect people’s lives in the nearly localities. “Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board intervened in the matter,” he told the Tribunal. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goyal of the NGT wondered whether the Board issued any notices to Sterlite Industries during 2014-18 for its alleged act of polluting groundwater.

Vedanta Limited, which runs Sterlite, told the Tribunal that it was ready to donate Rs.100 crores to enhance education, healthcare and drinking water facilities in Tuticorin and pleaded with the Tribunal to continue to allow Sterlite to function. Now that the parties have completed their respective arguments, the Tribunal has said that it would deliver its verdict within a week’s time.