When Sterlite Copper, a business unit of Vedanta Limited, set up a copper factory in 1998, no one knew what it would become 10 years later. What triggered the protestsResidents have been agitating against the proposed expansion of the copper plant, over pollution concerns, for more than 100 days now. Raja's assertion reflects the public mood against the Vedanta Group's copper smelting plant in the outskirts of Thoothukudi, nearly 600 km South of Chennai. "The pollution from the Sterlite plant has caused cancer and respiratory problems to several people living in the town. The existing copper plant, which has a capacity to produce 4 lakh tonnes per annum, has remained closed since March 27 when it began a 15-day maintenance shutdown.

Source: dna May 27, 2018 00:00 UTC