Madras: The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Vedanta group to stop construction of second unit of the Sterlite copper smelter plant in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.
The High Court also directed the Centre to hold public hearing before granting environment clearance within 4 months to Sterlite plant.
The order comes days after 10 people were killed due to clashes between police and protesters demanding closure of the plant.
Meanwhile, the Centre today asked the Tamil Nadu government to provide details of the incident at Tuticorin where nine people were killed in police firing during protest demanding the closure of Vedanta group’s Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns, officials said.
Union Home Ministry officials said the ministry is in touch with the state government over the developments in the port town in the southern state.
The home ministry has asked the state government to provide details of the incident at Tuticorin, an official said.
Nine people were killed in police firing yesterday after protests for the closure of Sterlite Copper plant over pollution concerns turned violent.
The protests were going on in Tuticorin for over three months, but violence erupted yesterday with agitators fighting pitched battles with police, prompting it to open fire.
Vedanta takes a hit on Dalal Street
Shares of Vedanta fell 6 per cent today on reports that nine people were killed in police firing after protests against the closure of Vedanta group’s Sterlite Copper plant turned violent in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin.
After opening the day on a weak note, the stock further lost 5.80 per cent to Rs 253.85 on BSE.
On NSE, shares of the company dropped 6 per cent to Rs 253.75.