CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, which represents the state government, on Friday submitted an affidavit to the principal bench of the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi, saying that the Sterlite unit was a polluter and allowing it to continue its operations would cause irreparable damage to the people in and around Thoothukudi. The state’s affidavit said the violations of environmental norms were evident from the records.“In these circumstances, it is humbly requested that this tribunal may reject the findings of the committee as the same was done without jurisdiction. The government order was a policy decision taking into consideration various environmental damages caused by the Sterlite unit,” the affidavit said.On November 27, the three-member committee appointed by the principal bench of the National Greeen Tribunal, New Delhi, headed by former Chief Justice of Meghalaya high court Tarun Aggarwal, observed that the closure of the Sterlite Copper Smelter unit in Tuticorin by the Tamil Nadu government was not justified.The committee said the state government had neither served any notice nor given an opportunity to submit its side of the factors. Following the submission, the NGT had directed the TN government to submit its response in a week.

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