Almost all parties in Tamil Nadu have welcomed the Supreme Court's Monday order, setting aside the National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision to reopen the Vedanta Group's Sterlite Copper Smelter plant at Thoothukudi.
Speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu Law Minister and senior AIADMK leader C Vee Shanmugam termed it as a victory for the State government. Stating that the State government effectively argued before the apex court that the NGT does not have the jurisdiction in deciding on the government’s closure order, he added the state government would face the case if the Vedanta Group approached the High Court for relief.
Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly and DMK President M K Stalin said he welcomed the court order. He said he would give a detailed explanation after getting the full details of the Apex court order.
MDMK General Secrtary Vaiko, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, DMDK president Vijayakanth and CPI(M) State Unit Secretary K Balakrishnan also welcomed the Supreme Court order.
The Supreme Court on Monday set aside an order by the National Green Tribunal which had cleared the way for reopening Vedanta's Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. "The NGT has no jurisdiction to entertain the case. Sterlite can approach the Madras High Court with its request for permission to reopen the copper plant in Thoothukudi district," the Supreme Court bench headed by Justice RF Nariman said.
