Six days after the police firing on anti-Sterlite that killed 13 people, Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued an order to permanently close Sterlite Copper smelter plant in Thoothukudi budging to the public pressure.

A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting chaired by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam after the family members of the 13 firing victims made it clear that they would not accept the bodies until the government issues an order to close the polluting smelter plant permanently.

“Under sections, 18 (1) (b) of the Water Act, 1974 in the larger public interest, the government endorse the closure direction of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Board to seal the unit and close the plant permanently,” said the order issued by MD Nasimmudddin, principal secretary, environment and forest department.

  Tamil Nadu news