Team Herald
PANJIM: Goan People’s Movements and Civil Society on Saturday protested outside Sesa Ghor in Panjim as a mark of solidarity with the people that were killed in Thoothukudi. The group denounced the actions of the Tamil Nadu authorities in Thoothukudi, which has led to the death of 13 civilians.
“Today we are protesting in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters who were in Thoothukudi. They have been protesting and fighting the Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant set up in their town for 20 years. That plant is owned by Sterlite which is a subsidiary of Vedanta and few days all of this came to head and the police fired in which 13 protesters were killed,” said Goan People’s Movements and Civil Society-Convenor, Tanya speaking to reporters during the protest
She said, “We are backing up their demands that the plant be shut down immediately and also any expansion plans be scrapped. Also those who are responsible for the murders of those 13 people have to be taken into custody and treated as per the law while the government officers who are responsible for this mess should be held accountable.”
The group has held the government of Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, District Administration of Thoothukudi and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, responsible for the escalation of violence and deaths in Thoothukudi.
Goan People’s Movements and Civil Society demanded the closure of the plant at Thoothkudi and a halt to its expansion.
In 2013, the Supreme Court had fined Sterlite for polluting the land and water in the area after a gas leak. The court had also rebuked the plant for operating without permits for some time.
