None can reopen Sterlite plant, all approvals cancelled: Palaniswami

Chennai, June 4 : Asserting that all approvals given to the Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant in Tuticorin were cancelled, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday categorically said the plant was shut permanently and no one could reopen it.
When leader of the Opposition and DMK Working President M K Stalin raised the issue during Zero Hour and demanded a resolution in the State Assembly seeking permanent closure of the plant and hiking the solatium to police firing victims on Anti-sterlite protestors to Rs one crore, the Chief Minister asserted that the plant could never b y re-opened.
‘All the approvals given to it were cancelled and the plant has been permanently closed and sealed…it cannot be re-opened’, Mr Palaniswami said.
He also listed out the steps taken by the government on the issue and said the GO, ordering closure of the plant, was issued after detailed consultations with legal expert and it would stand legal scrutiny.
‘Only if the Tamil Nadu government issued any order contrary to the directions issued by the Central Pollution Board (CPCB) under Sec 18 (1) (B) of Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act of 1974, then the GO will not stand legally’, he added.
‘But as on date, the CPCB has not passed any directions on the Sterlite issue. Hence the GO issued by the Tamil Nadu government for permanently closing down the Sterlite plant will stand legal scrutiny’, he said. Noting that all the approvals given to the plant were cancelled, Mr Palaniswami said power supply
to the Sterlite plant was cut, the boiler licence has been cancelled and the land allocated for expansion was also cancelled.