STERLITE INDUSTRY IN TUTICORIN

STERLITE INDUSTRY IN TUTICORIN

Sterlite Industries is a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources plc, which is in Tuticorin, India. It primarily focuses on the mining and refining of copper, aluminum and zinc.

Initially, the industry was established in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India in 1992. In 1993 itself, it was subjected to stringent scrutiny and was then opposed by the state government as it was affecting the livelihoods of the people in that region more specifically on the cultivation and fishing sectors. 

Despite the agitations in another state, Sterlite Industries was able to establish in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India, in 1996, although there have been many pleads to remove this industry but with very a little success.

The Sterlite Industries were using highly contaminated copper and produced 2.2 tonnes of copper, and 441 tonnes of arsenic in 2009 and 2010. In 2013, the Supreme Court summoned the Sterlite Industries to pay Rs 100 crore as compensation for polluting the land and water resources.

Still, from the perspective of the Central Government of India, the Sterlite Industries in Tuticorin is very prolific though, in reality, it is deleterious to the common people. On March 23, 2013, the people woke up by their smarting itchy eyes, burning throat, difficulty in breathing. They realised that it was because of the Sterlite Industries that was releasing Sulphur Dioxide which was well above the prescribed limits. It discharges noxious polluting effluents into streams, river and other water bodies thus affecting the aquatic flora and fauna.

Furthermore, the people of Tuticorin are predominantly farmers who depend on the agriculture. Whereas the industrial wastes were destroying the agricultural land, thus dwindling the main sources of income for the people.

As Sterlite was thriving financially, the Central Government of India is obstinate to continue the Industry by purporting that it is beneficial for the country. From the common man's perspective, boasting of achievements by the Government against the pathetic situation of people is nothing but ludicrous, and this is what the ruling parties have been propagating all times against the very interest of its people!

The Central Government must bring the industry to a halt forthwith, as it affects the lives of people and the environment on a large scale. Both the state and the Central government should set up a commission to work with NGOs, and common people to restore the environment and the livelihoods of the local people.

In future, the Central and State governments have to carry out a large-scale contemporary environmental impact assessment studies and establish such industrial activities where the environmental/livelihood impacts are negligible. The Government has to devise a system to obtain public opinions on each crucial subjects and only based on that, the decision for the establishment of such industries must be taken.

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