Environmental activists all over Tamil Nadu and the entire population of the port town of Thoothukudi (formerly Tuticorin) heaved a sigh of relief on Saturday with the closure of the copper smelter plant owned by Sterlite Industries. MDMK leader Vaiko has been campaigning for the closure of this polluting unit since 1996 when it started production. There has been widespread agitation against the plant as it allegedly destroyed the livelihood of fishermen, farmers and other sections of the population through unprecedented level of pollution.
The closure of the Thoothukudi unit of Sterlite Industries comes just two days before the apex court is to deliver its verdict on an appeal filed by the Sterlite Industries challenging the 2010 order of Madras High Court directing the closure of the unit on a petition filed by Vaiko and others. They had complained to the court that the unit was discharging noxious effluent which devastated the entire environment by polluting sea, land and air in the region.
Saturday’s closure of the plant is a sequel to the order issued by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board in response to the complaint by the town’s residents that the sulphur dioxide emitted by the company was much higher than the permissible levels. Since March 23 this year, people in and around Thoothukudi have been complaining about suffocation, sneezing and burning sensation in the eyes due to large scale discharge of sulphur dioxide.
The factory, which began production in 1996 has an installed capacity to produce 4,00,000 tonnes copper per year. It has a regular workforce of 1,000 and 3,000 contract workers. “The `4,000 crore plant was shut down on Saturday following an order issued by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board which found that it was emitting 2900 parts per million (PPM) sulphur dioxide whereas the permissible level was only 1250 ppm,” said Ashish Kumar, District Collector, Thoothukudi.
Though the district administration had issued show cause notice to the company based on complaint by the local population about a gas leak, the reply given by the group was not satisfactory, according to another administration official. But a company Press note claimed that the plant adhered to the highest standards of environment, health and safety practices. “All parameters and key readings of the particular period of March 23 were within the permissible range. The district administration had issued a press note confirming that no case of illness was reported on account of alleged emission ,” claimed the company release.
Interestingly, the company has been facing stiff resistance from the public led by Vaiko of the MDMK . Their contention was that the effluents discharged by the factory were polluting the sea and destroying the marine wealth in the region.
Selvam, a local fishermen, told this newspaper that the Sterlite Group had initial plans to set up the plant either in Gujarat or Goa. “They switched over to Tamil Nadu because of massive campaigns by environmentalists in these States,” said Selvam.