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13 people were killed in Thoothukudi last week when the police opened fire on anti-Sterlite protesters.

The Tamil Nadu government issued a G.O. on Monday to seal and “permanently close” the Sterlite
Copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi. 13 people were killed in Thoothukudi last week when police
opened fire on anti-Sterlite protesters, who were marching to the Collectorate to seek the closure of the
“polluting” plant.

The G.O. was issued on the eve of the Assembly session that begins on Tuesday and it came against the
backdrop of injured people confronting AIADMK Ministers about its commitment to close down the
factory.

Following the G.O, officials in Thoothukudi sealed the unit. "We have sealed this plant as per the
directions of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu", Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri said.

"The plant is permanently sealed. There is no more confusion. I request the people of Thoothukudi to
co-operate with the district administration to bring normalcy back in the district," he added.

Thoothukudi Tahsildar Sivagama Sundari sealed the main entrance of Sterlite Copper unit on Monday in
the presence of Collector Sandeep Nanduri, Superintendent of Police Murali Ramba and senior revenue
officials.

Thoothukudi Tahsildar Sivagama Sundari sealed the main entrance of Sterlite Copper unit on Monday in
the presence of Collector Sandeep Nanduri, Superintendent of Police Murali Ramba and senior revenue
officials. | Photo Credit: N. Rajesh

The G.O. issued by the Environment and Forests Department said, “Under sections 18(1)(b) of the Water
Act 1974, in the larger public interest, the Government endorse the closure direction of the Tamil Nadu
Pollution Control Board and also direct the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to seal the unit and close
the plant permanently.”

ALSO READ

Anti-Sterlite protesters laying siege to the Collectorate, demanding the closure of the copper
manufacturing unit in Thoothukudi on May 22

Anti-Sterlite protests: In Thoothukudi, how copper came a cropper

A separate official release said the G.O. was issued after groups opposed to the functioning of the plant
met the Chief Minister, deputy Chief Minister, senior Ministers, Chief Secretary and other officials at the
State Secretariat on Monday, and sought a permanent closure of the plant.

In the order, the government said that the TNPCB did not renew the Consent to Operate to Vedanta
Ltd’s Copper smelter plant in its order dated April 9, 2018.

“Subsequently, on May 23, the TNPCB has also issued directions for closure and disconnection of power
supply to the unit. The power supply has been disconnected on May 24,” it said.

ALSO READ

Police burst teargas shells to disperse anti-Sterlite protesters marching to the Thoothukudi District
Collectorate.

The Hindu explains: Sterlite protests

Separately, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, said in a statement that the citizens of Thoothukudi
had been opposing the operation of the plant and were seeking a permanent closure of the plant as it
had violated the terms related to the environment set by the National Green Tribunal and the TNPCB.

“Based on requests made by various groups opposed to the operation of the plant in a meeting today,
the request to shut down the plant completely was considered in a rigorous manner,” Mr. Palaniswami
said.

He said the Tamil Nadu government was following in the footsteps of the late Jayalalithaa and hence has
taken the decision to close the plant in the interest of the public.

On Sunday, Minister for Information Technology, Kadambur Raju faced the ire of those injured and
relatives at the hospital. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit is likely to visit Thoothukudi on
Tuesday and review the situation.

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