Above: Police resorted to lathi-charge during a massive protest against Sterlite factory, in Thoothukkudi on May 22/Photo: UNI
With the Madras High Court on Wednesday (May 23) ordering a halt in expansion of the Sterlite Plant in Tuticorin through an interim order, the pressure has built to huge levels against the Vedanta Group as well as against the police which had fired into a protesting crowd. So far there have been 12 deaths reported.
The court order not only halts the expansion plans of the Sterlite copper smelter in Thoothukudi, the power supply to which has now been cut off, it has also applied the much required balm on the protesters who had come down to the streets against the hugely polluting plants in southern Tamil Nadu.
The court had reacted fast even as police opened fire again on Wednesday on the unruly crowds demanding immediate closure of the Vedanta unit. A 22-year-old man died and many injured, it has been reported.
To stop trouble makers from spreading more discontent through social media, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered internet service providers in the area – Thoothukudi and neighboring districts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari – to stop services for five days, reports say.
The SP of police has been transferred, even as Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam met Governor Banwarilal Purohit to discuss developments.
Police firing and resultant clashes had killed 11 people on Tuesday. The protests have been going on for 100 days, with environment and human harm in the picture.
The company allegedly had no environmental clearance for the new plants, The high court has ordered the central government to hold public hearings before granting an environmental clearance to the company. The hearings have to be held on or before September 23.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government over the deaths and sought replies from the chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) on the firing within two weeks.
A plea was also moved by Tamil Nadu-based advocate Sabareesh in Delhi High Court on Thursday (May 24), seeking direction to the NHRC to conduct a separate enquiry of their own and to physically visit the location and enquire into the Tuticorin violence.
The plea was against asking reports from Tamil Nadu Police and the chief secretary of the state, saying that such reports will not bring out the truth
The court is likely to hear the petition tomorrow.
Please read the plea here.
—India Legal Bureau