CHENNAI, July 6: The controversial Rs 1,300-crore Sterlite copper smelting plant at Meelavittan near Tuticorin has been closed following a directive from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

The pollution board's order comes in the wake of Saturday's gas leak from the plant, which affected more than 100 people, mostly female workers in a nearby unit.

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board chairman M Devaraj said the unit had been functioning for the past five months.

``On July 5, about 90 persons in the vicinity of the industry were hospitalised on complaints of breathing problem, eye irritation and vomiting,'' the release said.

``On a preliminary enquiry by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, it is ascertained that the problem has been caused due to the inhalation of sulphur-di-oxide emission from the unit,'' it said.

``Since the industry contravened the conditions stipulated by the board in the consent order, it has been directed to close immediately,'' the release said. According to reports, the condition of five of those hospitalised was stated to be critical. Thirtyone others, most of them girls working in a nearby flower-processing unit, were admitted to the Tuticorin government hospital.

The rest were discharged after first aid, reports said. Environmentalists had successfully prevented the move to locate the plant in Maharashtra, following which Tuticorin was selected, amid protests from local people and fishermen.

Meanwhile, opposition Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary V Gopalsamy said that his partymen would soon lay siege to the plant demanding its permanent closure.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.