NGT affirms its interim order allowing Sterlite plant to start

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today affirmed its May 31 interim order allowing commencement of operations of Vedanta Group company Sterlite Industries' copper smelting plant in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, while making "absolute" its interim order of May 31, made it clear that the unit would be functioning under the Tribunal- appointed expert committee whose suggestions would be binding upon the company.

"The interim order dated May 31, 2013 is made absolute," the bench said.

The NGT also constituted a special committee to "conduct a study and place on record the causes for the health hazards resulting in and around industries and industrial clusters, like SIPCOT."

The special committee shall comprise Secretary of Health, Tamil Nadu government, Member Secretary of and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), Director General of Health Services of Tamil Nadu, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko and two independent experts, the Tribunal said.