Plea to close down other polluting industries

Tuticorin: Vimal Rajesh Raj, an advocate who was earlier arrested for his involvement in the anti-Sterlite protest told reporters in Tuticorin on Saturday that the NGT committee should also identify and permanently close down other polluting industries in the district. Hoping that Sterlite would be permanently closed down, he said that the closure of the copper plant has not given relief to the people of Tuticorin.

“We have been coming across news that thick clouds of smoke continue to emanate from other industries in the district. This is affecting the environment and people. There have been incidents of people suffering from breathing difficulty. Despite closure of Sterlite, incidents of pollution and sufferings of people have not come to an end,” he said and added that all those companies should be identified.

Vimal said that the NGT had earlier said that all polluting industries should be identified and a report on the same submitted about five years ago. “But it has not been done so far. Though the three-member committee is studying Sterlite we will submit a memorandum to the committee on Sunday to consider our plea for the welfare of people of the polluted city,” he said. The state government also shoulders the responsibility, he said.