Following the completion of submissions by Vedanta and the Tamil Nadu government, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday reserved its order on the company’s plea challenging the State government’s order to shut down the Sterlite plant.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the order would be uploaded on the tribunal’s website by next Monday.
The green panel was hearing Vedanta’s plea against the State government’s order directing closure of the Sterlite unit in Thoothukudi.
During the hearing, the State government informed the bench that the plant had not taken any remedial steps despite groundwater conditions worsening. The order was issued based on a holistic assessment, it said.
On Friday, Vedanta told the tribunal that the company was willing to invest ₹100 crore for development-related activities in the area, apart from its usual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work.
A report submitted by a NGT- appointed committee said that that smelter unit was shut “against the principles of natural justice.”
P Ramnath, CEO, Vedanta said, “We have supported the people of Thoothukudi for over two decades bringing employment, helping businesses develop and providing income directly and indirectly for many families. We hope that the NGT will consider all facts shared and enable us to continue our strong association with the people.”
