Vedanta to reopen Thoothukudi copper smelter

Zee Biz reported that India’s Supreme Court cleared the way for Vedanta to reopen its south Indian copper smelter by refusing to stay an order from the country’s environmental court. Vedanta Legal Counsel Aryama Sundaram said “The Supreme Court refused to issue a so-called stay halting the NGT’s decision. Additionally, the Supreme Court did issue a stay halting an order by the Madras High Court that barred Vedanta from reopening the Thoothukudi smelter until the Madras court hears a case challenging the NGT’s verdict.” Though the court refused to stay the NGT order, the court did admit Tamil Nadu’s appeal before the high court, allowing that case to proceed further, Yogesh Khanna. Mr Khanna said that „The court will continue to hear the case even though it has not stayed the earlier order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).” The Tamil Nadu state government ordered the smelter shut permanently in May after protests against alleged pollution at the plant in the city of Thoothukudi during which the police killed 13 demonstrators. In December, India`s National Green Tribunal revoked the state decision to shut the plant leading Tamil Nadu to appeal the NGT ruling.