The Govt. of Tamil Nadu has preferred an appeal with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), challenging the Tribunal’s decision a few weeks back allowing the controversy-ridden Sterlite Copper Plant in Tuticorin to resume its operations.

People of Tuticorin and the surrounding Districts protest hard during the first half of last year objecting to the continued operation of Vedanta Group’s Sterlite Industries which had been emitting chemicals and smoke which was proving detrimental to the (health) interests of locals as well as the cattle. Govt. quelled the peaceful protests by ordering firing in which scores of innocent civilians lost their precious lives.

In the meantime, setting aside people’s sentiments, the environmental danger and Govt. of Tamil Nadu’s objections, the NGT had ruled a few weeks back that Sterlite Industries could commence its operations. The Tribunal had also directed the State-run Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) to resume power supply to the plant within three weeks’ time to enable the plant to commence its operations.

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has, in the meanwhile, announced that it can’t allow the commencement of the operations of the plant for maintenance work. TNEB has also stated that it can’t consider resuming power supply to the Plant in view of an appeal filed by the TNPCB with the NGT challenging its order on Sterlite.