Why people of Thoothukudi protest against Vedanta?

Thoothukudi: Vedanta Sterlite Copper Unit is one of the biggest copper mining units in India. The unit was established in Thoothukudi in the year of 1998.

Initially, the unit was planned to be established at Ratnagiri of Maharashtra. But owing to public protest, the plan was dropped. In 1994, Pollution Control Board (PBD) of Tamil Nadu gave license to establish the unit in Thoothukudi..

Annually, four lakh tonnes of Copper cathode is being manufactured at Thoothukudi plant. Heavy metals, acids and other poisonous substances are polluting this region for more than two decades.

On March 27, the plant had closed for maintenance. Despite the protest against the unit, the company had plans to double size the production to eight lakh tonnes per year. However, the PBD refused to renew the license pointing out the contravention of environment laws by the company. The company approached the higher authority. The authority had posted the matter to be considered on 6th June.

In 2013 too, the company faced a closure following a case in National Green Tribunal. The people living around the plant have been protesting against it for many years. Thoothukudi district collectorate witnessed many protests in which children and women lined up.

The protestors point out that their serious concerns, on polluting the river and well water resources by dumping metal wastes, were being neglected by the concerned authorities.

The people's protest is not only against the Sterlite entity, but also against the district administration, the police, the government and even the PBD, for allegedly functioning as agents of the corporate giant. The local population complains that those including the PBD and Encironment-Forest ministry have shown dire dereliction of duty and betrayed the people.