STERLITE – The Truth and Beyond

The State Government of Tamil Nadu has ordered the permanent closure of the Sterlite Copper Plant in Tuticorin, putting an end to the protests which spanned almost 23 years. The order has come just days after the incident of open firing on protestors by the Police, which claimed 13 lives.

The copper smelting plant has been functioning since 1996. It was established in Tuticorin since the project was denied approval in other states like Maharashtra citing Environmental issues. Ever since the plant started functioning, it has constantly been under the radar for various incidents of violation of the operating norms.The Company was often accused of indulging in production beyond the licenced levels, which in turn polluted the environment. For this, the plant was even issued multiple closure orders since 1998, which were revoked later.

A study conducted by the Tirunelveli Medical College in 2008 revealed that the iron content in the Groundwater around the plant was found to be many times higher than the levels prescribed by the BSI. Clearly, this would not have happened if the waste from the industry had been discharged properly! The locals even experienced suffocation, eye irritation and severe discomfort due to a gas leak from the plant in 2013, for which it was once again issued a closure order (only to be revoked a week later). Nobody knows how the plant acquired licence to operate in its current location considering its close proximity to the Gulf of Mannar! Environmentalists worried that the toxic gases emitted from the industry might cause severe damage to the rare varieties of Flora and Fauna.

It becomes obvious from these facts that Sterlite has indulged in unlawful activities that has had adverse effects on the environment. Thus we cannot turn down the voices of the protestors by simply flagging them as baseless allegations. Also, a shallow dive into the brief history of the dispute reveals that the Government has always favoured the industry despite being aware of the happenings. At the end of the day, we live in a Democracy where the interests of the citizens must receive utmost priority. And, if they wish not to have an industry that deteriorates their habitat, let them get rid of it for God’s sake!

Another atrocious act committed by the Government is the declaration of open fire on the protestors. This unfortunate incident on the 100th day of protests led to the loss of 13 lives. To be honest, the absence of politicians on the 100th day of a significant protest, that too with such a huge gathering smells fishy. Were they already aware of the outcome? How did a 100 day long, what was a non-violent protest till then, turn violent all of a sudden? The Police, in their defence say that things turned violent as a large amount of anti-social elements had infiltrated into the crowd. We cannot lend a deaf ear to this statement too!

Nevertheless, the justification of open firing at the masses without prior warning is not at all acceptable! Crowd control norms clearly state the firing must be done only to disperse the crowd. Killing 13 people is clearly not the way you do it! It will not be an exaggeration to conclude that undue haste and flouting of the norms by the police made situations worse! This clearly showcases the inability of the Government in handling crisis times! Frustration further builds up on seeing the Government announcing compensations for the families of the deceased. Did they just assume money can make up for lost lives?

The State Government has finally decided to get rid of the plant from Tuticorin. It indeed is a victory for the people. The fact that it came at the cost of 13 lives is what makes it unenjoyable! Also, this order from the Government has left many stones unturned. For instance, nobody knows what will be the condition of the employees who were earning their livelihood depending on the plant! Again, Sterlite most likely is going to appeal against the issued closure order and if it manages to get a stay on the same, we might even see Sterlite functioning again! Setting aside these possibilities, the Government must ensure the proper removal of the existing wastes from the currently sealed industry.

The continuous protests going on for the past few years in Tamil Nadu deserves a mention. A lot of good development projects have been stalled in the name of protests. Sterlite was indeed a polluting hub but that doesn’t mean the others have to be the same! While it is true that development projects affect the environment considerably, it is not fair to reject them as a whole! In fact, the most developed cities of today were the most industrialised and the most polluted cities once! Industries and development projects bring economic growth. We don’t have to shut industries, we need strict rules to regulate them instead!