Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board did not issue any show cause notice to Vedanta group to close down the Sterlite copper smelter plant at Thoothukudi. They only issued an order while a show cause notice is mandatory before ordering a closure, said counsel for Vedanta group before the three member panel set up by the National Green Tribunal.

Senior counsel C Aryama Sundaram appearing for Vedanta group told the panel headed by Justice Tarun Agrawal, former Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court that the plant should be re-opened keeping in mind that there was no show cause notice issued by the PCB. No reason was given for the closure, and was made known only after the closure, he argued.

Sundaram urged the panel to permit about 50 company officials to enter the plant to carry out administrative work. He also urged the panel to permit sale of gypsum water at the plant.

The counsel for the State government sought more time from the panel to counter points made by Vedanta.

The panel will hear arguments of the State government, PCB and other interveners after Dusshera holidays on October 27, 28 and 29, Sundaram's junior Rohini Musa told newspesons.

On Friday, lakhs of letters from local people — those supporting and opposing the start of the Sterlite copper smelter plant at Thoothukudi — were submitted to panel.

The panel was constituted after Vedanta petitioned NGT to consider reopening the plant that was sealed on May 28 due to protests by locals against alleged pollution.

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