People are protesting against National Green Tribunal (NGT) verdict to reopen Vedanta’s plant in Tuticorin. They are showing black flags to mark their disagreement with the verdict. Protesting students have been arrested by the police.
Actually, protests have started after NGT ordered that Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper smelting plant in the state should be reopened. NGT had set up some rules and regulations for Vedanta plant before it reopens in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin. It has asked the Vedanta company to spend Rs 100 crore within a span of 3 years for the welfare of people belonging to that area.
Students and other people have organized protests in the state. They are considering reopening of this plant as anti-environment decision. The local police has seized black flags from protestors, but their spirits didn’t die. According to Times Now, villagers tore their shares to make flags out of them.
The NGT verdict was against the order of Tamil Nadu government to close the plant. They had ordered the closure of the plant in May 2018. Even chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that he will move to the Supreme Court against this verdict.
This year, around 13 people were killed and many injured in a police firing who were protesting against the Vedanta’s copper smelting plant. They were protesting against a plant whose license was rejected by the TN Pollution Control Board for harming the environment. People also complain about the ill – effects of the plant on their health.
