Tamil Nadu bandh begins, govt seeks permanent closure of Vedanta plant in Thoothukudi

DMK-backed bandh begins in Tamil Nadu, Police officials say situation in Thoothukudi is under control.

The Tamil Nadu government said on Thursday that it was seeking a permanent closure of a big copper smelter run by London-listed Vedanta Resources after 13 people died in protests demanding the closure of the plant on environmental grounds.

“The government’s position is very clear, it doesn’t want the plant to run,” said Sandeep Nanduri, District Collector of Thoothukudi, after a meeting with senior state government officials.

Other state officials confirmed the government’s position.

On Tuesday, police opened fire on protesters demanding that the smelter in the port city of Thoothukudi be shut down. In all, 13 protesters have been killed this week.

Residents and environmental activists say emissions from the plant, India’s second biggest, are polluting the air and water, affecting people’s health.

Meanwhile Superintendent of Police Murali Rambha said the situation in the area was under control, “The town is calm now and situation is under control. Sufficient number of police has been deployed to maintain the law and order. We are working towards restoring hotels and markets,”: he said.

The day-long bandh called by the main opposition party DMK started on a peaceful note, Backed by several other parties, the bandh has been called to protest the deaths in police firing and to seek the ouster of what the DMK calls the “BJP’s puppet government” .

Earlier on Thursday, authorities cut the power to the smelter. The pollution control board of Tamil Nadu said the smelter, which was shut pending renewal of its operating licence, was found last week to be preparing to resume production without permission.

On Thursday, Vedanta’s Indian stock closed down 2 per cent.

A company spokesman did not immediately respond to a Reuters’ email seeking comment on Tamil Nadu’s closure plan and the allegation that it had been preparing to resume production without approvals. Vedanta has previously denied that the smelter has been polluting the air and water.

“The issue of renewal of consent for the year 2018-2023 has been rejected ... due to non compliance of certain conditions,” the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) said in an order dated Wednesday.

It did not elaborate on the conditions the smelter had not met but said it “shall be disconnected with power supply and closed with immediate effect”.

The agency told Vedanta it could not resume operations without permission.

The plant has already been shut for more than 50 days and had been ordered to stay closed until at least June 6, pending environmental clearances.