Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy declared on Monday that the decision to close down the polluting Sterlite Copper plant at Thoothukudi in the State was final and there was no possibility of the plant resuming its production in future.
The Sterlite Copper plant, owned by the Vedanta Group, was shut down and sealed by Sivagama Sundari, the Tahsildar of Thoothukudi last Monday following widespread riots and police firing resulted in the death of 13 persons in the port city.
The Opposition DMK, which had boycotted the legislative Assembly in protest against the police firing had declared that it would not return to the House until Palaniswamy resignedas Chief Minister owning up moral responsibility for the “unjustified” police firing. The Chief Minister retaliated the next day by declaring in the House that it was the DMK-led Government which had provided land and money to the Sterlite Copper’s expansion plan in 2010.
This together with film actor-turned politician Rajinikanth’s visit to Thoothukudi forced the DMK to change it’s decision andey returned to the House on Monday. The proceedings began with a calling attention motion by M K Stalin, leader of Opposition, on the Thoothukudi issue to which the Chief Minister replied with the statement that the Sterlite Copper’s Thoothukudi operations has come to an end.
"The Government’s order to close the factory was passed after consulting senior Ministers and legal experts to ensure that the plant remains permanently closed. We also went a step further and cancelled all permissions issued to the Sterlite Copper like — water, electricity and boiler license. Even the land alotted for the plant’s expansion has been cancelled,” said Palaswamy while replying to Stalin’s question.
“We have taken all necessary measures to halt the plant’s operation and stop it from resuming its functioning, “ declared Paliswamy amidst thumping of the desk by the treasury benches.