TN govt disconnects power supply to Sterlite Copper

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Thursday disconnected power supply to the beleaguered Sterlite Copper Limited after it was found that the company was carrying out preparatory works to resume production.

The copper smelter plant was shut temporarily in March by the company for taking up annual maintenance work.

However, it has not yet opened after the TNPCB refused to renew the Consent to Operate (CoT) licence to Sterlite Copper for not adhering to rules and regulations.

Though the plant is still shut, the Vedanta-owned company was carrying out preparatory works at the plant.

Since this went against the refusal to grant of CoT, the TNPCB moved to suspend power supply to the sprawling plant.

However, it will not affect Sterlite for two reasons —the plant is already shut and even if it resumes, Vedanta has a captive power unit in Thoothukudi that would come in handy.

The TNPCB’s action comes a day after the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court asked Sterlite Copper to stop work on its ambitious plans to expand the smelter unit at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore.

"The issue of renewal of consent for the year 2018-2023 has been rejected due to non-compliance of certain conditions," the board said in an order.

The TNPCB refused to renew the CTO that expired on March 31, citing non-adherence to agreed safety measures and effluent management by the Vedanta-owned company.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said in Chennai that the AIADMK government had no intention of allowing Sterlite Copper to function and pointed to the disconnection of power supply.

He also said the government is taking steps to ensure that Sterlite Copper is closed.