The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday allowed Sterlite Industries' Tuticorin-based smelting plant to continue operations.

The Tamil Nadu pollution control board (TNPCB) had slapped the smelting plant with a closure notice on May 29, following reports of sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas leak from the plant in May.

But, the NGT bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar quashed the state pollution control board's closure notice, saying it was arbitrary.

In its ruling, the NGT bench said, "It is not a case of promoting development at the cost of environment. The order suffers from the vice of arbitrariness and cannot be sustained."

The state pollution control board had ordered closure of the smelting plant after complaints that the leakage of SO2 gas on 23rd of May 23 caused serious ailments among the residents of Thoothukudi town, which is situated nearly eight kilometers away from the plant.

Sterlite welcomed the NGT ruling, and said it would implement all recommendations made by the expert committee appointed by the NGT in a time-bound manner. It added that it would take all steps to ensure the utmost environment standards in its operations.