Vedanta Ltd welcomes NGT order

Chennai: Mining Company Vedanta Ltd on Saturday welcomed the National Green Tribunal order allowing it to resume operations at its facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
 
In a statement issued late on Saturday, P Ramnath, Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite Copper Plant’s CEO, said, "We welcome the order given by the National Green Tribunal on allowing us to resume operations of our copper smelter at Thoothukudi". "We are happy that all those affected by the closure will get back their source of livelihood and the town of Thoothukudi will revert to normalcy," he said.

Stating that the company had been operating smelter by adopting "best practices" followed globally, the official noted, "We thank the people of Thoothukudi for the faith reposed in us and for their support".

"We will continue to work for the welfare of the communities around the region and remain committed to grow sustainably along with the people of Thoothukudi," he said.

The National Green Tribunal on Saturday set aside the Tamil Nadu government order for closure of Vedanta Ltd's Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin, which was at the centre of massive protests over alleged pollution, saying it was "non-sustainable" and "unjustified". 

The Tamil Nadu government, meanwhile, said it would challenge in the Supreme Court the NGT order setting aside the closure of the plant in Tuticorin in the wake of protests by residents.