Tamil Nadu allows Vedanta's Sterlite to produce oxygen for 4 months

Chennai, April 26: Edappadi Palaniswami led Tamil Nadu government on Monday permitted Vedanta Group's Sterlite Copper plant to produce Oxygen for 4 months, using electricity provided by the State Government. The government also added that also added that based on the COVID-19 situation and the requirement of oxygen, this period may be extended.

 

The decision was taken during the all-party members' meeting. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and representatives of recognized parties such AIADMK, DMK, BJP, PMK, DMDK, Communist parties, and officials from the Director-General of Police and Health Secretary were a part of the meeting. The govt took the decision considering the acute shortage of medical oxygen in the state.

 

 

However this decision to permit the plant’s operation comes with several conditions - no other unit within the plant will be allowed to operate, electricity will be suspended after the stipulated period and Copper or other products cannot be manufactured during these four months. Besides, Sterlite will not be permitted to use its power generation unit.

 

 

 

In the statement released by the Tamil Nadu government, it was declared that the state government will constitute a monitoring committee led by the District Collector and also comprise of a Superintendent of Police, Sub-Collector, District Environmental Engineer from the Pollution Control Board, two government experts on oxygen production and three representatives of public, environmental organizations and anti-Sterlite groups.

 

Earlier, Vedanta-owned Sterlite Copper also offered its help to the government. The company also has sent two separate letters to the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in this regard.

 

 

The unit was sealed by the state government in May 2018, days after 13 agitators were killed in police firing during a violent anti-Sterlite protest in the southern district.

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