Supreme Court Suggests Expert Committee to Deliberate on Reopening Vedanta’s Sterlite Plant in Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court of India proposed the formation of an expert committee to assess the feasibility of reopening Vedanta's Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. This decision emerged during the court's deliberation on a plea by the Tamil Nadu government, advocating for the permanent closure of the plant, which, according to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, has been a source of groundwater pollution in the area.
The recommended committee is expected to comprise representatives from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board, and three nationally-recognized environmental science experts. This committee is tasked with evaluating whether the copper unit can operate in Thoothukudi and under what conditions, if any, it should be allowed to resume operations.
The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, highlighted the importance of finding a balance that serves both the nation's interests and addresses the community's environmental concerns. CJI Chandrachud emphasized the state's dual role as a guardian of its residents and a steward of national interest, suggesting that a compromise could ensure that the facility's potential is not lost to the country.
The Vedanta Sterlite copper plant was shuttered in 2018 by the State Pollution Control Board due to alleged environmental law violations, following extensive protests from the local populace concerned about pollution. These protests escalated dramatically on their hundredth day, resulting in police firing on demonstrators and causing multiple civilian casualties, which in turn sparked widespread condemnation of both the AIADMK state government and the BJP-led central government at the time.
In seeking a "middle ground," CJI Chandrachud proposed that the committee could recommend operational conditions for the plant, potentially involving significant investments by Vedanta to mitigate environmental risks. The court's stance suggests a move towards reconciling economic interests with environmental and public health concerns, setting a precedent for how industrial disputes impacting the environment and community welfare might be resolved in the future.
