Order of the Madras High Court regarding environmental clearance granted to Sterlite Industries Limited and which is carrying on construction activities on the site for the proposed Copper Smelter Unit II at SIPCOT, Tuticorin. The clearance has, according to the petitioner, been obtained by Vedanta, without the conduct of a public hearing and the requirement for such hearing had been waived on the incorrect representation of Vedanta that Unit II was to be located in Phase II of SIPCOT Industrial Park that had itself been granted approval.

Madras High Court directs that the application for renewal of EC submitted by Vedanta shall be processed expeditiously after conduct of mandatory public hearing. In the meanwhile, Vedanta shall cease construction and all other activities on-site proposed Unit-II of the Copper Smelting Plant at Tuticorin with immediate effect.