Sterlite copper plant allowed to operate until July second week

Sterlite-Industries-LtdSterlite Industries Ltd can now reopen and operate its Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu-based copper smelting plant until at least July's second week as the Supreme Court of India on Monday declined to stay a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order allowing the Londo-listed company to resume operations.

The National Green Tribunal's order was challenged by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TPCB), which argued that the order was beyond the Tribunal's jurisdiction and that the state's appellate authority could not be sidestepped.

The smelter, run by London-listed Vedanta's subsidiary Sterlite Industries, was closed on 30th of March after nearby residents complained that emissions from the plant were causing breathing problems.

A SC bench comprising Justices Gyan Sudha Misra and Madan B Lokur declined to stay a National Green Tribunal's order and asked an expert committee to file a report on the safety & environmental aspects of the smelter's operations before the apex court. The bench posted the matter to the second week of July, saying the next hearing in the case would take place after the submission of the report by the expert committee.

A Sterlite source said on Monday that the smelter was yet to recommence operations as the expert panel hadn't met yet.

The reopening of the plant will gradually ease a supply shortage of copper that led to increase in prices and imports of the metal.