News Analysis India

Tag: tuticorin

  • SC lists Vedanta’s plea on Sterlite copper unit in Tuticorin for hearing on November 29

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has listed the Vedanta group’s plea related to the closure of its Sterlite copper unit in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin for a hearing on November 29. According to an update on the apex court’s website, the plea of the Vedanta group firm will be heard on November 29.

    On October 9, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had assured the firm’s counsel that it had directed the registrar to allocate “two dedicated dates” for hearing the Vedanta group’s plea.

    “I am well aware of the situation. I have already directed the registrar to allocate two dedicated dates (for hearing),” the CJI had said.

    The top court had, in May, asked the Tamil Nadu government to take appropriate decisions in pursuance of its April 10 direction by which it had allowed the Vedanta group to carry out the upkeep of its Sterlite copper unit in Tuticorin under the supervision of a local-level monitoring committee.

    In its April 10 order, the top court had also allowed the evacuation of the remaining gypsum at the plant and made available the required manpower as requested by the company.

    It had noted that the district collector had not recommended activities, such as undertaking a civil and structural safety integrity assessment study on the plant premises, removal and transportation of spares and equipment and evacuation of in-process reverts and other raw materials lying idle.

    “As regards the actions which were not recommended by the district collector, C S Vaidyanathan, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the state of Tamil Nadu, states that the state government will once again evaluate whether any further or supplementary directions should be issued in that regard,” the top court had noted in its April 10 order.

    During the earlier hearing, the counsel for Tamil Nadu had said steps were already taken to implement the directions contained in one of the paragraphs of the April 10 order, which stated that “as regards those actions which have been permitted to be carried out by the communication dated March 6, 2023, we allow necessary consequential steps to be taken.”

    “We direct that all decisions, which are required to be taken in pursuance of the observations contained in paragraphs four and five of the order dated April 10, 2023, shall be taken by the state of Tamil Nadu on or before June 1, 2023,” the bench had said.

    The apex court had then listed the plea for final disposal on August 22 and 23.

    At least 13 people were killed and many injured on May 22, 2018, when police opened fire on a huge crowd of people protesting against environmental pollution allegedly caused by the copper-smelting unit.

    The Tamil Nadu government had, on May 28, 2018, ordered the state pollution control board to seal and “permanently” close the mining group’s plant following violent protests over pollution concerns. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has listed the Vedanta group’s plea related to the closure of its Sterlite copper unit in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin for a hearing on November 29. According to an update on the apex court’s website, the plea of the Vedanta group firm will be heard on November 29.

    On October 9, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had assured the firm’s counsel that it had directed the registrar to allocate “two dedicated dates” for hearing the Vedanta group’s plea.

    “I am well aware of the situation. I have already directed the registrar to allocate two dedicated dates (for hearing),” the CJI had said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The top court had, in May, asked the Tamil Nadu government to take appropriate decisions in pursuance of its April 10 direction by which it had allowed the Vedanta group to carry out the upkeep of its Sterlite copper unit in Tuticorin under the supervision of a local-level monitoring committee.

    In its April 10 order, the top court had also allowed the evacuation of the remaining gypsum at the plant and made available the required manpower as requested by the company.

    It had noted that the district collector had not recommended activities, such as undertaking a civil and structural safety integrity assessment study on the plant premises, removal and transportation of spares and equipment and evacuation of in-process reverts and other raw materials lying idle.

    “As regards the actions which were not recommended by the district collector, C S Vaidyanathan, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the state of Tamil Nadu, states that the state government will once again evaluate whether any further or supplementary directions should be issued in that regard,” the top court had noted in its April 10 order.

    During the earlier hearing, the counsel for Tamil Nadu had said steps were already taken to implement the directions contained in one of the paragraphs of the April 10 order, which stated that “as regards those actions which have been permitted to be carried out by the communication dated March 6, 2023, we allow necessary consequential steps to be taken.”

    “We direct that all decisions, which are required to be taken in pursuance of the observations contained in paragraphs four and five of the order dated April 10, 2023, shall be taken by the state of Tamil Nadu on or before June 1, 2023,” the bench had said.

    The apex court had then listed the plea for final disposal on August 22 and 23.

    At least 13 people were killed and many injured on May 22, 2018, when police opened fire on a huge crowd of people protesting against environmental pollution allegedly caused by the copper-smelting unit.

    The Tamil Nadu government had, on May 28, 2018, ordered the state pollution control board to seal and “permanently” close the mining group’s plant following violent protests over pollution concerns. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Why can’t Tamil Nadu govt take over Vedanta’s unit to produce oxygen, asks SC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: People are dying due to lack of oxygen, the Supreme Court said on Friday while questioning the Tamil Nadu government as to why it cannot take over Vedanta’s Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin, closed since May 2018 over pollution concerns, for producing oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients.

    “We are not interested that Vedanta or A, B or C runs it. We are interested that oxygen should be produced,” a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said.

    “Somebody should say something concrete because people are dying due to lack of oxygen,” said the bench, also comprising Justices L N Rao and S R Bhat.

    IN PICS: Indian hospitals left gasping for oxygen as coronavirus cases, deaths rise

    The apex court was hearing Vedanta’s plea seeking opening of its Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin on the ground that it would produce thousand tonnes of oxygen and give it free of cost to treat patients.

    Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu government, referred to the “law and order” situation there and said district collector had gone there today morning to talk to people on the issue.

    “There is total lack of confidence there,” he said, adding that 13 persons had lost their lives earlier there.

    “Yesterday, you did not told us about the law and order situation. The situation would have been different. Have you filed this on oath,” the bench asked Vaidyanathan, who said he would file an affidavit.

    Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for organisation of affected families, said that state government can take over the unit and produce oxygen.

    “We have absolutely no problem if the state of Tamil Nadu take over the plant and produce oxygen,” the bench observed, adding, “Why are they not producing oxygen when people need it?” 

    “The whole point of this exercise is that people in the country need it (oxygen),” the bench said, adding that Tamil Nadu might have surplus oxygen but the issue is about the whole country.

    ALSO READ | Big tragedy may happen due to oxygen shortage in hospitals: Kejriwal at PM’s COVID meet

    “The national assets of the country should be equally distributed among the citizens,” the bench said.

    Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the country is in “bad need of oxygen” and it is not that every state produces oxygen.

    “The Central government is not concerned whether Vedanta runs it or Mr Vaidyanathan’s client runs it. Law and order problem can’t be a ground if people are dying,” Mehta said, adding, “When we have the potential capacity of 1000 tonnes, then why should we not produce it”.

    The bench told Mehta, “You don’t have to labour on a point which we ourselves hold. There is directive principles of state policy in the Constitution which we are sure Tamil Nadu is aware of.”

    Vaidyanathan said the state doesn’t want a situation where there is confrontation and the state government would talk to the Centre on this.

    The bench said when people are dying, the state cannot say that it would not produce oxygen due to law and order situation.

    The top court, which was informed by Vaidyanathan that he would file an affidavit on the issue, posted the matter for hearing on April 26.

    The apex court had Thursday termed the COVID-19 situation as almost a “national emergency” while agreeing to hear Vedanta’s plea seeking opening of its unit at Tuticorin.

    Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Vedanta, had Thursday sought urgent hearing of the plea during the day itself and said that people are dying on daily basis and we can produce and supply oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients.

    The top court had earlier refused to accord early hearing to the plea related to mining major Vedanta’s Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu which is closed since May 2018 over pollution concerns.

    The apex court on December 2 last year had rejected the interim plea of Vedanta Ltd that it be permitted to inspect its Sterlite copper plant and to operate it for a month to assess the pollution level.

    Vedanta had sought handing over of the plant for three months saying it requires two months to start the unit and the company should be allowed to run it for four weeks to ascertain whether its polluting or not.

    In August last year, Vedanta had moved the apex court challenging the Madras High Court order refusing to allow reopening of the Tuticorin plant.

    The high court had upheld the orders of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) directing closure of the unit in May 2018.

    Vedanta had approached the high court in February 2019, seeking to reopen Sterlite plant which was closed following a May 23, 2018 order issued by the TNPCB in the backdrop of violent protests against the unit which left 13 people dead in police firing on May 21 and 22.

    It had filed the petition in the high court as suggested by the Supreme Court, which had on February 18, 2019 set aside the National Green Tribunal order that allowed opening of Sterlite plant.