May 29, 2018
Chennai : After shutting the Toothukudi Copper Smelter plant of Vedanta, the Tamil Nadu government has cancelled the land allotment in the town for expansion of the plant.
The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd (SIPCOT) on Tuesday cancelled the land allotment. At present, Vedanta has 400,000 tonne per annum Copper Smelter Plant, known as Sterlite Copper plant.
The SIPCOT cited the allegations against the company and the peoples agitation and the protests to cancel the land allotment. The TN body said it feared expansion of the project could lead to increase in pollution caused by the first copper smelter plant.
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According to SIPCOT letter, the allotment of 342.22 acres made to Vedanta is being cancelled in the larger public interest. The land price collected from the company would be refunded to it as per norms.
On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order closing Vedanta’s first copper smelter unit with an annual capacity of 400,000 tonne per annum.
The government issued the closure orders after 13 people were killed in police firing during protests against the functioning of the plant. In November 2017, Vedanta said its board approved expansion of its copper smelter to 800,000 tonne per annum.