Sterlite told to shut down TN copper smelting plant - The New Indian Express

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has ordered the closure of Sterlite Industries's copper smelter unit here in the wake of an alleged noxious gas leak from it. The board, under instructions from District Collector Ashish Kumar, has issued a notice directing the Vedanta group company to close the plant, officials said. Company officials said they had started shutting down the operations complying with the Board order, which came a week after an unspecified gas allegedly leaked in the area on March 23. The gas leak caused mild suffocation, sore throat and eye irritation to several people in the locality, who suspected that it originated from Sterlite, dealing in sulphuric acid. The leak triggered protests with hundreds of people, including MDMK leader Vaiko and CPI leader Nallakkanu, being arrested on March 28 when they were on a march to the unit demanding its closure. Based on an inspection report by the Pollution Control Board, Revenue Divisional Officer K Latha served a notice on March 24 to the company seeking a clarification. Sterlite officials, however, claimed that their plant was safe and followed the highest safety norms. Vaiko has long been pressing for the closure of the plant on the grounds that pollution caused by it has turned farm lands non-cultivable and affected the fishery resources in the coastal town. via Business - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNG1jDAEk3anmQtH88V76qwb3ma0qw&url=http://newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/article1523695.ece

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