The Madras High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on a plea filed by Vedanta Limited challenging the rejection of its proposal to commence a “Green Copper” facility at its previously closed Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant in Thoothukudi.
The petition came up before the First Bench comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, which posted the matter for further hearing on February 26.
Vedanta Limited moved the High Court seeking to quash the TNPCB’s order refusing consent to operate a re-engineered copper smelting unit under the “Green Copper” model. The company contended that the refusal was passed in gross violation of principles of natural justice and statutory procedure.
The petition alleged that the TNPCB’s decision was taken without any prior notice or opportunity for a personal hearing, which is a mandatory safeguard under applicable environmental laws and guidelines.
Specifically, Vedanta pointed to Rule 6(3) of the 2025 Control of Air Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, which mandates prior notice before any inspection. The company said the inspection forming the basis of the rejection was carried out without informing them, rendering the order legally unsustainable.
Vedanta further argued that the TNPCB’s refusal was based on a “fundamentally flawed premise” that past regulatory actions and earlier court proceedings regarding the now-shut smelter permanently disqualified it from even being considered for a new, upgraded facility.
“The refusal proceeds on the erroneous assumption that past operations foreclose even consideration of a re-engineered and environmentally superior facility, an approach unsupported by statute or precedent and amount, in effect, to an unauthorized de facto ban,” the plea stated.
Stressing the importance of copper as a strategic national resource, Vedanta said the “Green Copper” facility aims to bridge the gap in domestic copper production using state-of-the-art, sustainable technology. The project, it claimed, would involve a comprehensive technological overhaul and significant investment to build a digitally advanced facility prioritising environmental protection, public health, and economic growth.
Vedanta has urged the High Court to constitute a court-monitored, multi-disciplinary expert committee to independently evaluate the “Green Copper” proposal. The proposed panel would include representatives from TNPCB, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the Ministry of Mines, along with independent technical experts.
The company submitted that this collaborative, scientific evaluation would ensure a balanced and responsible approach to reviving copper production in India, aligned with both environmental imperatives and strategic industrial goals.
The matter is now slated for further hearing on February 26.
