More than 20 villagers took to the streets to protest the environmental damage at the Vedanta-owned Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi. The end of the strike was a rally on May 22, 2018 to submit an application to the Collector. Friday’s rally was led by the police were involved in the riots, attacks.
The plant was then shut down. Vedanta sought the permission of the High Court to reopen the plant in compliance with appropriate environmental regulations. But Vedanta’s request was rejected. This was later appealed to the Supreme Court. The trial of that case is ongoing. In this context, Sterlite Copper Plant CEO Pankaj Kumar sent a letter to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary.
The letter said that the Dattukudi sterlite copper plant has a unit producing 500 tonnes of oxygen per day and the unit will be allowed to operate only due to shortage of oxygen cylinders in various states.
The same letter has been sent to the Union Health Minister, Duathukudi District Collector and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board Chairman. Vedanta has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking permission to produce oxygen in this case. The petition is likely to be considered soon.
