Natural resources company Vedanta on Monday moved the Supreme Court (SC) and sought access to the Tuticorin plant in Tamil Nadu citing the need for repair and maintenance owing to the recent floods in the state.

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The company told SC that the facility was experiencing acid leaks and warned the leaks could contaminate the local environment.

The company while presenting its case to the SC also argued that the closure of the plant has led to a loss of 24000 jobs. The company claimed that the facility can meet 36 percent of India's copper needs as the recent rise in copper import has got the government worried.

Until the closure of the Sterlite Copper plant in 2018, India was a net exporter of copper for nearly two decades.

The International Copper Association had earlier said that India's copper import, that rose 26 percent to 60,766 tonnes in the June quarter of 2021-22, is likely to rise further in the rest of the financial year, as the economic activities pick up the pace.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in 2018 ordered closure of the controversial Sterlite Copper plant after massive protests by locals, social and environmental activists who alleged that the facility was causing widespread and severe pollution in the areas, leading to many suffering from serious diseases. 13 locals had died in police firing during the protest.

Vedanta’s appeal against the closure was overturned by the Madras High Court.

First Published:Nov 29, 2021 3:19 PM IST