Sterlite copper, a demon masquerading as an industry, with operations in India and Australia, is a part of the giant Vedanta Plc, and is a 41000 crores worth establishment. Been existing for many years, the prominent industrial establishment in Tuticorin, gained prominence in 2013, after it was found that the factory had been polluting land and water bodies in its vicinity, with gas leaked from the plant, following which the supreme court had slapped a 100 crore fine on the company.
Even post the fine imposed, the inhuman animals running the plant continued to operate illegally without prior permission and had people occasionally launching protests, until the movement gained fire, following the decision of the company to expand the plant, which meant the acquisition of more lands from people. The life killing plant has been since then impacting the lives of people in and around the locality, as people have no other water source other than the contaminated water which has effluents from the plant mixed, besides, due to the smoke emitted from the plant, people find it extremely difficult to breathe during nights, with throats facing a painful, burning sensation.
Not just adults get exposed to the hazardous impacts of the factory (anyone walking barefoot develops rashes or extreme skin allergies), but the kids as well, as they encounter wheezing and breathing issues, with kids reporting incidents of fainting in schools as well. The industry generates diseases as well as impacts a whole generation itself, as infertility is another major issue which is an effect of the industry.
This is because of copper smelters, which release toxic gases, sulphur dioxide, and dust particles into the air, and with such industries around it definitely would require large quantities of water, directly impacting water bodies around as well as depletion of groundwater. While the prescribed emission limit is at 1250 mg/cubic meter, the emission reading of Sterlite is generally around 3000 mg/cubic meter, which is extremely toxic.
The unethical and brutal bosses of Sterlite have arm-twisted even authorities and has so far acquired permission from many, including the district environment engineer, Tamilnadu pollution control board, and from the highest level of authorities with the government. Sterlite has multiple troubles to the environment and ecology, and the residents of the locality, as it is close to Gulf of Mannar, and it lacks a proper green belt around the factory, and there were no proper meetings held with people to help them meet the risks from the industry.
With people protesting peacefully so far, nothing has happened in their favour, while the Vedanta group has been firm in its inhuman practice of impacting lives of people by constantly emitting gases and polluting water, besides also using all its money and influence to hire the best of people in power and goons, to get peaceful protesters brutally thrashed, and imprisoned, to Such an extent that the people not just lose the energy and motivation to fight the evils, but also decide once and for all to get accustomed to the hazardous impacts of Sterlite gases and ultimately effecting their families and children, thus putting a whole generation in danger, and a spot of bother.
Sterlite had been always involved in illegal activities like dumping of copper slag into odai river, besides expansion of the plant without legal permissions, and it has been alleged that TNPCB and central pollution control board sealed the continuous Ambient air quality monitoring station as a part of a conspiracy to support Sterlite, and in this way, destroying and rendering useless, the reports of Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emitted from the plant. The smoke and the toxic fumes generated frequently cause breathing troubles, headaches and nosebleeds to people and the said impacts don't even spare kids.
Despite powerful protests with strong-minded people, the movement had not been gaining the required mileage, just because the scheming Vedanta group gets the right people to influence and weaken the protests, and also to disrupt plans of the protesters. While a recent plan to convene a meeting, by anti Sterlite team was turned down by the corporation, the team had acquired permission from the Madurai bench of Chennai High court, following which the protest is held today, and with some major developments in the past six weeks, the movement has gained huge support, and barring several eateries, pharmacies, most of the shops and establishments in Tuticorin remained closed.
While auto rickshaws, minibusses stopped plying, salt pans stopped working, theatres remained shut, with prominent places like WGC road, old and new bus stand road, VE road remained empty. With the massive protest held today, it has been expected that with people fighting together, a proper solution can be achieved, destroying the evil Sterlite, that has been reducing lifespan and killing lives, and ultimately save the mankind of Tuticorin.
