THOOTHUKUDI: The Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi cannot be reopened, Minister for Information & Publicity Kadambur C Raju said on Sunday. Meeting former staff of the plant near Kovilpatti, the minister said the plant’s closure was a policy decision of the State government. However, he assured those who had lost their jobs that the government had taken steps to make alternate arrangements. The minister said the plant’s former employees would be given preference for jobs in government projects.
Representatives of the Sterlite All Contractors Development Association and of Sterlite contract labourers had met the minister at his residece at Chidambarapuram and submitted petitions urging the government to reopen the plant. They were joined by former employees of the plant. They claimed their livelihood was at stake and alleged the plant had been closed due to a fake campaign by anti-social forces.
Raju categorically stated that the plant could not be reopened. “As many as 12,000 employees are affected directly and indirectly due to the closure... these people will be given priority in future government projects such as the establishment of Madurai-Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor, the seawater desalination plant and shipbuilding yard,” he said. Residents of Thoothukudi have campaigned for closure of the plant for over 20 years charging Sterlite of polluting the environment. On May 22, an anti-Sterlite rally ended with police opening fire on protesters, killing 13. The government had since issued an order to seal the plant.