CHENNAI: Twenty-nine companies have been directly affected due to stoppage of sulphuric acid from Sterlite Copper plant at Thoothkudi after it was closed, according to Chemical Industries Association.
The closure of the plant, following protests from people of Thoothukudi over health hazards resulting in the death of 13 persons in a police firing on May 22, had also affected 150 companies indirectly, according to V Gurumurthy, association vice-president.
Totally, 10,596 employees across 29 companies are dependent on Sterlite Copper for livelihood, said S Ilanahai, association president said. It is learnt that the association had written a letter to Industries Minister M C Sampath to take remedial measures to reopen Sterlite copper.Thoothkudi Lorry Brokers Association Anand told reporters that 1,200 lorries which supply raw materials to Sterlite have been affected due to the closure. Thoothkudi Contractors Association president Thiagarajan said closure affected livelihood of 25,000 people.