The Supreme Court on February 15 deferred the hearing of Vedanta's plea seeking re-opening of its Sterlite copper smelter plant in Tamil Nadu to February 20.
During the course of the hearing, senior advocates Gopal Sankaranarayanan and C.S.Vaidyanathan who appeared for Tamil Nadu and the state's pollution control board, told the court that they would like to consult with the stake holders about SC's suggestion on formation of a committee o study the feasibility of restarting the shut Sterlite copper smelting plant.
On February 14, the apex court orally observed that it could constitute a panel to study the feasibility of restarting the shut Sterlite copper smelting plant owned by Vedanta in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin.
The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud-led bench observed that the panel will comprise experts on the environment and a representative from an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), which has a department on environmental studies. However, no order was passed by the apex court on the constitution of the panel.
At the end of the hearing on Wednesday, the SC urged the lawyers for both Vedanta and the State to obtain instructions on the committee.
Background of the case:
In 2018, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the closure of Sterlite Copper after violent protests against the plant resulted in 13 deaths due to police firing. The government had cited violation of environmental norms as a reason for the closure.
The plant, at that time, was producing over 400,000 tonnes of metal ores annually and accounted for 40 percent of India's copper output. It also provided employment to 5,000 people directly and 25,000 indirectly.
Vedanta, the parent company of Sterlite Copper, challenged the government's decision and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) allowed the plant to reopen finding the closure to be disproportionate. However, the Supreme Court overturned this decision and directed Vedanta to approach the Madras High Court for any interim relief.
Neither the Madras High Court nor the Supreme Court allowed the plant to reopen. Vedanta has filed a plea seeking periodic access to the plant to carry out essential maintenance work. The company is urgently seeking a hearing, citing the steep deterioration of the plant and its structures.
In April 2023, the Supreme Court permitted Vedanta to carry out the maintenance work at the closed plant. The decision was made based on the report of a high-power Committee (HPC) formed by the Government of Tamil Nadu to inspect the structural and civil safety of the plant.
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