India orders closure of Vedanta copper plant after deadly protests saw 13 people shot dead by police
The state government has said it supports concerns raised by its pollution regulator about the factory, and has ordered it permanently shut down
Indian authorities on Monday ordered the permanent closure of a copper plant that was at the centre of deadly protests last week that saw 13 people killed by police fire.
The violence erupted when thousands marched in southern Tamil Nadu state last week, demanding the closure of the factory owned by British-based mining giant Vedanta Resources over fears that it was polluting the environment.
In an order Monday, the state government said it supported concerns raised by its pollution regulator about the Sterlite Copper factory on the outskirts of Tuticorin and ordered it to be shut down permanently.
The pollution board last week ordered that electricity to the factory -- the second-largest copper smelter in India -- be switched off.
It also instructed the company to cease all activities at the plant until a decision had been made on its pending application to renew its operational license.