TUTICORIN: “The majority of the people who came here want the factory ( Sterlite ) to be closed. They don’t want the factory to run,” said Tarun Agarwal, chairman of the three-member committee formed by the National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) to inspect the sealed copper plant. The committee chairman was addressing reporters after receiving petitions from the people at a public hearing at the Government Polytechnic in Tuticorin on Sunday.Tarun Agarwal said that more than a couple of thousand people petitioned the committee. It will study their representations and decide on further course of action. The chairman refused to comment on questions pertaining to availability of any dangerous chemical components or if they found any violations at the plant during their two-hour visit earlier in the day.A protester being confronted by police personnel at the sealed Sterlite plant in Tuticorin on SundayOn violations, he said that it is too early for them to comment. Asked if one day (Saturday evening to Sunday evening) was enough for the inspection, Tarun said they got enough time to visit a number of places and directly interact with affected villagers. Adding that they have a hearing in Chennai on Monday, he said that the committee would visit again if required.Hundreds of police personnel were deployed for security arrangements at the public hearing venue to avoid clashes as there were many who had both come for and against Sterlite.Earlier in the day, the three member committee inspected the sealed copper plant from 8.30am to 10.30am. As the main gate of the plant was sealed from May 28, the committee entered through the side gate that is being used for transporting materials.They were accompanied by representatives of the company, Tamil Nadu pollution control board, Central pollution control board, Tuticorin collector Sandeep Nanduri and Tuticorin district SP Murali Rambha. There was a heavy police presence around the plant. Villagers had a tough time crossing the stretch till the committee left.After the inspection, the committee visited a pond at T Kumaragiri to check the water quality and extent of pollution. They headed to A Kumarattiyapuram village near the plant where the anti-Sterlite protests first sparked on February 12, which paved the way for a series of major protests that came to an end with the police firing on May 22.They asked villagers on the impact of the copper plant on the people and environment before visiting the Sterlite employees quarters Tamira-I and interacted with the residents.

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