The closure of the Sterlite plant at Tuticorin is not sustainable, against natural justice: Committee for NGT



[ad_1]

A committee established by the National Green Tribunal to rule on the plea of ​​the Vedanta mining company challenging the closure of its Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin told the Environmental Defense Commission that the closure was Was not sustainable because it was contrary to the principles of natural justice. [19659002] The committee, chaired by Tarun Agrawal, former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya Supreme Court, stated that no notification or opportunity for hearing had been given to Vedanta before the closure .

"The impugned orders can not be upheld because they are contrary to the principles of natural justice The reasons given in the impugned orders do not justify the definitive closure of the plant." The other issues raised do not justify either the closure of the factory, even if the appellant was found guilty violate the conditions / standards / instructions, "said the committee before a commission chaired by Judge Adarsh ​​Kumar Goel, chairman of the NGT.

Taking note of the report, The NGT ordered that the electronic copy of the report be given to the company's lawyer, Tamil Nadu, at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and to the Central Commission for pollution control by email.

"Stakeholders would only be at liberty to badist the attorney and not to an individual hearing At this point, only a copy of the report should be provided, as indicated above." The parties will have the opportunity to file their comments regarding the report or otherwise, within one week from this day.The parties may exchange their respective arguments, "said the court.

The case is now scheduled for December 7 th review.

The court also stated that, in the event that the court would be of the opinion that the plant should start producing, the committee is of the opinion that it would be necessary ask him to monitor the quality of groundwater, including heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, silver, copper, fluoride in and around the factory premises and the surrounding villages once a month. at the TNPCB.

"Sampling of the above should be done in the presence of a representative of the TNPCB, and sampling of effluents / emissions and solid wastes should also be carried out by a monitoring group consisting of of the TNPCB, consisting of a representative of the district collector, a leader of the TNPCB, NGOs and academics.

TNPCB to be sent to the CPCB for badysis The CPCB's recommendations must be followed Copper slag spilled at the 11 sites, including the upper reaches of the river, must be removed If copper slag has been used for landfilling, Slag above ground level would be removed and then the landfill would have to be compacted with a foot of soil so that the copper slag would not be blown away by the high winds, "said the committee.

The committee also recommended that before disposing of copper slag, gypsum and any other product, the company will first need to obtain the approval of the TNPCB.

"Request from the company to obtain a valid authorization for the disposal of hazardous waste" According to the commission, the TNPCB should get rid of the rules on hazardous waste and other waste (management, transboundary movements, 2016), "said the panel.

The NGT had previously announced the establishment of a credible mechanism the views can be balanced and the final view taken, it must evolve.

The Green expert group said the committee, made up of representatives of the Central Pollution Control Commission (CPCB) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, could visit the site and review the technical data

He had noted in his ordinance that it could not be ignored that the copper smelter factory contributed to copper production in the country and employed 1,300 people.

The Green Court at He had asked the committee to submit his report to he stated that the matter should be heard upon receipt of the committee's report.

She ordered the TNPCB to provide logistical support to the committee and announced that her remuneration would be determined by the state government.

On August 9, the court authorized Vedanta to enter the administrative unit located inside his Sterlite copper factory in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, reporting that access to this section would not cause any damage to the environment.

had however indicated that the plant would remain closed and that the company would not have access to its production unit and ordered the district magistrate to insure it.

On July 30, the court refused to grant Vedanta an interim measure, which had challenged the Tamil Nadu government's order to permanently close its Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi, even though the company called government action "policy".

On July 5, the court had sent notices to the state government and the Office of Pollution. seeking their answers after Tamil Nadu had raised preliminary objections regarding the defensible nature of Vedanta's plea.

The Tamil Nadu Government Ordered May 28 A board of directors will seal and permanently "shut down" the mining group's copper plant following violent demonstrations against pollution problems.

Earlier in April, TNPCB rejected Sterlite's request to renew the Consent To Operate certification, stating that the company had not complied with the stipulated conditions.

At least 13 people were killed and several others injured on May 22 when police opened fire on a crowd of people protesting environmental pollution allegedly caused by the plant.

[ad_2]
Source link