The National Green Tribunal Southern Zone has posted for April 12 Sterlite Industries’ appeal against the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board’s order closing its copper smelting unit in Tuticorin.
Following the Pollution Control Board’s order of March 29, 2013, the four-lakh-tonne a year unit was closed on March 30.
The order to shut the unit followed complaints from the public on March 23 of a possible gas leakage from the factory causing eye and throat irritation.
The company has denied the allegations of gas leakage.
The Tribunal posted the case for Friday after new parties, including V. Gopalswamy, General Secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam; National Trust for Clean Environment; and an activist in Tuticorin, impleaded in the case.
The Tribunal also directed the Tuticorin District Collector to file a counter to Sterlite Industries’ petition by that date.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board filed its counter affidavit today.