India's Supreme Court clears the way for Vedanta's copper smelter to reopen

SMM1, 8 Feb: India's Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to uphold the order of (NGT), the national green court, which paves the way for the reopening of Vedanta's Thoothukudi copper smelter in Tamil Nadu.

On 15 December, the Environmental Court ordered the reopening of the Thoothukudi copper smelter in Vedanta. A few months ago, the smelter was shut down by the Tamil Nadu government because of pollution problems. It requires the TNPCB to adopt a new order within three weeks to renew its consent and authorization to deal with hazardous substances subject to the appropriate conditions for the protection of the environment in accordance with the law.

"if any order is adopted on the basis of an order of the pollution Control Board without independent consideration, the court may also reconsider to determine the legality of the order," NGT said in his order.

While ordering the closure of the Sterlite plant, the Tamil Nadu government said it agreed with the direction of TNPCB's closure and instructed the board of directors to support the permanent closure of the plant "in the greater public interest" under section 18 (1) (b) of the 1974 Water Act.

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