Tamil Nadu govt files case in SC against NGT order for reopening Vedanta's plant

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the National Green Tribunal's order for reopening Vedanta's Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi, which was shut down by the state government for causing irreversible water pollution.

Seeking ex parte stay of the operation of NGT's December 15, 2018 order, the state government has contended that the green tribunal has failed to consider the "data, document and evidence furnished by TNPCBA to prove that the operation of the plant had" irreversibly polluted the groundwater in and around Thoothukudi district".

The Principal Bench of the green tribunal by its December 15, 2018 order had set aside a series of orders passed by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) shutting down the plant and directed it to pass fresh orders permitting the renewal of consent for the copper smelter unit and authorisation to handle hazardous waste within three weeks.

Referring to the NGT judgement, which said the non-furnishing of groundwater analysis report was a technical breach and is trivial in nature, Tamil Nadu has contended that the finding of the green tribunal shows a "non-application of mind."

The State government has asserted that it has furnished "sufficient evidence" to show the operation of the copper smelting plant had "polluted the groundwater" and thus Vedanta Limited that owns the plant has not furnished the groundwater analysis report.

(With inputs from agencies.)