Sterlite to build bridges with Tuticorin people

  • | Saturday | 14th July, 2018

With the plant shut for almost two months now (from March 28 for annual maintenance shutdown), people from nearby villages are worried about their livelihood and employment," P Ramnath, CEO, Sterlite Copper told TOI. If the data is the proof, then we have a right to business and operate the smelter," he said.Sterlite Copper, part of Vedanta Ltd, on July 3 moved a petition before the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi against the closure of its copper smelter. "Reaching out to the people and building bridges with them is our priority now. CHENNAI: Embattled Sterlite Copper , whose smelter in Tuticorin was shut down by the state government in wake of violence and police firing on protesters on May 22, has opted for an 'outreach programme' for building bridges with the people in neighbouring villages and residents in the town. Some of the villagers have turned positive and are coming to us asking for drinking water and employment.

CHENNAI: Embattled Sterlite Copper , whose smelter in Tuticorin was shut down by the state government in wake of violence and police firing on protesters on May 22, has opted for an 'outreach programme' for building bridges with the people in neighbouring villages and residents in the town."Reaching out to the people and building bridges with them is our priority now. Some of the villagers have turned positive and are coming to us asking for drinking water and employment. With the plant shut for almost two months now (from March 28 for annual maintenance shutdown), people from nearby villages are worried about their livelihood and employment," P Ramnath, CEO, Sterlite Copper told TOI. Some feel that outsiders had stayed in villages and influenced them through incentives, he said.As part of its 'outreach programme', the company has formed several teams, each comprising 15-20 employees, to fan out across the region to connect with large number of people. "Through interaction and skit shows, they will explain to people the mis-campaign about Sterlite and cancer, as well as seek to erase the myth about Sterlite being the major source for Sulphur Dioxide (SO2). They will also explain all the developmental work carried out by the company in the vicinity in the last two decades," Ramnath said.When the plant was shut, Sterlite Copper had employed around 4,000 people, including 1,000 direct employees and 3,000 on contract. "Employment of the outsourced contract employees has been terminated using force majeure. Direct employees, who had to flee after the trouble erupted, have all come back," Ramnath said.While some of the employees are kept busy with outreach programme, a few others are working in the plant, assisting the authorities in evacuating acids and other material. "They are not involved in any productive work inside the plant, since permission is yet to be granted by the authorities for carrying out even maintenance work. Hence, we are waiting for a positive order from the NGT in New Delhi," Ramnath explained.Referring to an article in TOI that CPCB has given two years for reducing SO2 emissions to Tangedco, Ramnath said, but Sterlite was shut down without notice. "We have been shortchanged. If the data is the proof, then we have a right to business and operate the smelter," he said.Sterlite Copper, part of Vedanta Ltd, on July 3 moved a petition before the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi against the closure of its copper smelter. In its petition, it has challenged the orders passed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) directing closure of its copper smelter unit in Tuticorin and also sought the NGT's permission to allow it to carry out care and maintenance of the plant and other interim reliefs, during the pendency of the appeal.

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