BJP, AIADMK have joined hands to reopen Tuticorin Sterlite plant, alleges MK Stalin

DMK President MK Stalin on Sunday alleged that the BJP and rival AIADMK in Tamil Nadu have joined hands to reopen theTuticorinSterlite plant.

Referring to the groundwater analysis conducted by the Union Ministry of Water Resources, he said It's shocking to know that the analysis was pro-Sterlite.

"BJP and AIADMK have joined hands to reopen Sterlite Plant, it's condemnable.Union Ministry of Water Resources conducted groundwater analysis independently in and around of Thoothukudi. It's very shocking to know that the analysis was pro-Sterlite," MK Stalin tweeted.

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"It is shocking to see the BJP government throw away the welfare of crores of Tamil people for the sake of a private corporate company," he said.

The DMK leader called for the withdrawal of the report and asked the state government to move the court and get a star order.

The Tamil Nadu government, on the other hand, rejected the Centre's report on groundwater contamination in Tuticorin in the backdrop of the Sterlite controversy.

The state government said it was "absolutely vague" and seemed to support the Vedanta Ltd unit which was "totally unwarranted".

In her letter to the Ministry of Water Resources, RD and GR (Ground Water), Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan said that Tamil Nadu was "perturbed" that the report had been commissioned without intimating the state government or the statutory authorities, including the TNPCB.

"On the basis of scientific studies, the TNPCB has concluded that the level of pollution caused by the Sterlite Copper Smelting Plant has gravely affected the health and safety of residents in the locality, warranting closure of the industry," she said in the letter, dated September 7.

She also said that the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) refused to renew consent for the operation of Sterlite Copper Smelting plant in Tuticorin in April after detailed investigation and analysis of all the relevant factors.

She further said that the Tamil Nadu government had ordered the permanent closure of the unit to safeguard the environment adding that the order was imposed by the virtue of Article 48-A of the Constitution of India.

Quoting from the report, she said it concludes that the investigation team could not enter into the premises of Sterlite Copper Industry to collect representative samples from inside and outside of the unit since district authorities had sealed it following a government order for its permanent closure.

She said the report had stated that "Therefore, it cant be stated that M/s Sterilte Industry is only cause of pollution indicated above" and described this conclusion as "totally unwarranted".

"This conclusion, which appears to support Sterlite Industry, is totally unwarranted, besides being absolutely vague and is not supported by any empirical data whatsoever," she said. Further, it does not appear to be made on any scientific basis and it was not known how the two scientists who have submitted the report have made such a vague and an unsubstantiated statement in the report, she added.

She said the state government "strongly feels that the report is motivated and has been prepared only to prejudice the Tamil Nadu government and the TNPCB cases in various judicial fora."

She finally concluded by rejecting the report and asking the Ministry of Water Resources to immediately withdraw the entire report.

Vaidyanathan said, "In view of the above, we reject the report and request you to immediately withdraw the entire report since the competent statutory authority of the State has already conducted a detailed analysis on which a decision has already been taken by the Tamil Nadu government and since the matter is sub-judice before various fora".

Thirteen people were killed in a police firing after violence broke out on May 22 during an anti-Sterlite protest at Tuticorin.

(With inputs from PTI)