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Tuticorin plant: SC refuses to interfere with NGT order (Lead, correcting headline)

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New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday declined to interfere with an NGT order to set up an experts committee to study the impact of Vedanta’s copper smelting plant in Tamil Nadu on the environment. The state government ordered the closure of the plant on May 22, prompting the company to approach the tribunal.

The tribunal had on August 20 set up the committee headed by a retired Judge to visit the smelting plant in Tuticorin, gather technical data and submit a report. The Tamil Nadu government challenged the setting up of the committee in the Supreme Court, contending that company’s plea in NGT was not maintainable. Vedanta should have gone to the Madras High Court, not NGT, the state pleaded.

Tamil Nadu had ordered for the closure of the Tuticorin plant, around 650 km from Chennai, following protests and the death of 13 persons in police firing on May 22.

Refusing to interfere with the National Green Tribunal’s order to set up the committee, a bench of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Indu Malhotra said that the NGT will continue to hold hearing on merit and maintainability of the plea after the panel submits its report.

“Once the committee report is given to the NGT, it will proceed with the hearing,” the court ordered.

Besides technical members, the committee has representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment and Forest.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Nariman said that the top court’s August 17 order has not been brought to NGT notice. “Our order has to be obeyed.”

As one of the counsel in the case said that the August 17 order was brought to NGT notice, Justice Nariman pointed out that it does not find mention in the August 20 NGT order.

The bench had on August 17 said: “We clarify that the National Green Tribunal may continue to hear the matter on merits and finally decide the matter both on the maintainability as well as on merits.”

Disposing of Tamil Nadu government’s challenge to the tribunal permission to Vedanata to access the administrative section of its now-shut Sterlite plant in Tuticorin, the court had said that it was open to Tamil Nadu to “argue the matter on the maintainability more fully after which the tribunal will render its final findings both on the maintainability as well as on merits.”

As senior counsel C.S. Vaidyanathan insisted that the maintainability of the petition by the mining major be decided first, Justice Nariman said: “It is not our order. We had said both.”

Vaidyanathan said that the mining major could have approached the High Court only and not the tribunal against the closure order.

“We are not with you,” Justice Nariman said as Vaidvanathan pressed his plea that the maintainability be decided first.

This month, the NGT had permitted access to the plant’s administrative office but barred the Sterlite management from accessing the production unit on the premises.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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