Sterlite asked to give fresh representation for police protection

MADURAI: The Madras high court Madurai bench on Wednesday directed the

Vedanta Limited Unit

(

Sterlite Copper

) to give a fresh representation to the police for police protection.

Justice

D Krishnakumar

who heard a plea filed by the company’s general manager (legal) A Satyapriya also directed the police to consider the representation and pass appropriate orders on it.

During arguments, the additional advocate general said that in an earlier occasion, the police registered an FIR on the basis of a complaint lodged by the company and also effected arrests. Police have taken steps to protect the unit, the AAG said.

According to the petitioner, Sterlite Copper which operates a 400KTPA copper smelter plant is going to commission a second unit with the same capacity adjacent to the existing unit in the middle of 2019. For that, it has started its works after obtaining all necessary approvals and clearances from the ministry of environment and forest and from the departments of pollution control board, fire, health and local planning authority.

However, a group of people caused disturbance to vehicle movement in and around the petitioner’s company. It was taken to the notice of the SIPCOT police.

In the meantime, an organisation conducted a meeting in the

Tuticorin

district. The speakers who spoke during the meeting repeatedly threatened to destroy the properties of the company. Besides, many organisations are planning to hold further meetings against the company.

There is an imminent threat to the company. The company has employed more than 3,500 people directly and indirectly. The employees are residing in areas opposite to the company. Besides, the company contains sensitive equipment and environment control devices. If they get damaged, they cannot be replaced easily which may also cause irreparable loss to the firm. Hence, it is necessary to give a direction to the district superintendent of police to give protection to the company and its staff, the petitioner said.