While permitting Sterlite Industries at Tuticorin to continue operations of its copper plant, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to issue notice to the industry for carrying out remedial measures and removing deficiencies within such time “it thinks reasonable and proper.”
A Bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik in its interim order directed the Board to give such directions in two weeks.
The Bench directed the matter to be listed for further hearing in the first week of January 2012 and said that the interim stay of the Madras High Court judgment ordering closure of the industry would continue till then.
The Bench pointed out that the TNPCB had filed an affidavit on August 30, 2011, listing the deficiencies and measures to be implemented by the petitioner-industry.
The Board had pointed out deficiencies in emission control in the process section, fugitive emission control, effluent treatment operation, disposal of rejects arising from effluent treatment plant, raw material storage handling, stormwater drainage and collection system solid waste disposal, monitoring of air quality, effluent and water consumption and green belt development.
The Board had correspondingly suggested measures to be implemented under each head.
The Bench took note of these measures and directed the Board to issue notice to the industry under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to ensure implementation.
