After NGT’s Yes, Madras HC Says Sterlite Copper Plant in Thoothukudi Can’t Reopen Just Yet

The Madurai Bench of the court directed that status quo will continue till January 21 and ordered the State to inform by then whether it intended to file an appeal against the tribunal verdict.

The Madras High Court on December 21 ordered status quo as existed before the National Green Tribunal set aside a Tamil Nadu government order for closure of Sterlite’s copper plant in Thoothukudi.

Justices K.K. Sasindhran and P.D. Audikesavalu of the Madurai Bench also restrained the Vedanta group from taking any steps to reopen the unit.

Hearing a petition against reopening of the Sterlite unit following the NGT order, the court directed that status quo will continue till January 21 and ordered the State government to inform by then whether it intended to file an appeal against the tribunal verdict.

The bench issued notice to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer of Sterlite to file their counter.

On an appeal by Sterlite, the NGT on December 15 quashed the May 28 order of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for permanent closure of the plant in the wake of protests by local residents, holding that that it was “non-sustainable” and “unjustified”.

Sterlite on December 20 said it had sought permission from the TNPCB for reopening the plant