New Delhi, April 2: The Supreme court has ordered Sterlite Industries to pay compensation of Rs 100 crore for polluting environment through its copper smelting plant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
The apex court refused to order closure of the plant in Tuticorin, but said, the compensation amount be paid over a period of five years.
"Compensation must act as a deterrent and any amount less than Rs 100 crore would not have the desired impact", the apex court said.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Friday had ordered closure of Sterlite Industries' copper smelter unit, located in Tuticorin, due to alleged leaks of noxious gas.
The board's closure notice comes after "unsatisfactory" explanation to the show cause notice issued by district collector Ashish Kumar, after a suspected sulphur dioxide leak from the plant on March 23.
The gas leak caused mild suffocation, sore throat and eye irritation to several people in the locality who suspected that it originated from Sterlite, dealing in sulphuric acid, a by-product.
Post the TNPCB's order, the district authorities snapped power supply to the plant. Earlier, Sterlite had resisted the move saying that the plant cannot be shut down suddenly and the controlling units could be switched off only in three phases.
The plant also produces sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, gypsum and anode slimes.
