Demands for the reopening of the Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi are growing louder, as diverse sections of society including trade unions, transport associations, and local residents continue to petition and protest against its prolonged closure. Most recently, legal professionals have joined the movement, staging demonstrations to press for the plant’s revival.
On 10 September 2025, a group of advocates led by Advocate Muneeswaran staged a demonstration urging the Tamil Nadu government to allow the plant to resume operations. Protesters highlighted that the closure of Sterlite Copper had led to widespread unemployment in the region, especially among youth, contributing to rising substance abuse and vulnerability to exploitation by caste-based groups. They emphasized that the company had previously generated significant employment both directly and indirectly and had implemented social development initiatives in nearby villages.
Growing Movement Demands Reopening of Sterlite Copper Plant in Thoothukudi
Public support for Sterlite’s reopening is growing across various sectors. On 4 September hundreds of auto rickshaw drivers from Thoothukudi, under the leadership of Karuppasamy, Secretary of the Muthunagar Auto Drivers Welfare Association, submitted a formal petition to DMK MP Kanimozhi. The petition called for the introduction of a special resolution in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to restart the Sterlite plant under a “green copper” model.
The petition noted that over a thousand families in the region depend on auto rickshaw driving and ancillary small businesses, many of which thrived when Sterlite was operational. According to their claims, the plant once supported nearly two lakh livelihoods. The closure allegedly without due legal process has not only destabilized local economies but also impacted India’s copper supply chain, causing a rise in imports and inflationary pressures.
The petition also referenced expert recommendations from eminent environmental scientists such as Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Ganapathy D. Yadav and retired professor Dr. R. Nagendran, both of whom have proposed environmentally sound frameworks to resume operations safely.
Protest Momentum on the Rise
The movement to reopen Sterlite is gaining ground. In July 2025, hundreds of residents including women’s self-help groups, villagers from Pandaram Patti South, Veerapandiapuram, and fisherfolk from Threspuram staged a protest outside the District Collector’s office in Thoothukudi. While a large contingent gathered, only a few were allowed to present their petition due to heavy police deployment.
ஸ்டெர்லைட் ஆலையை மீண்டும் திறக்க வலியுறுத்தல்… மீனவ கிராம மக்கள் முற்றுகை போராட்டம்#THoothukudi #SterliteFactory #Fisherman #Protest #TamilNews #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/lFs3iCcd7z
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) July 21, 2025
Earlier, on 16 June, villagers from South Veerapandiapuram, Saminatham, and nearby areas organized a similar protest. Many of the participants were former Sterlite employees who now struggle with menial jobs and mounting debts. Reports suggest that over 300 youth from these communities were directly employed at the plant prior to its closure.
Support from DMK Ally Sparks Political Tension
Significantly, support for reopening Sterlite is also emerging from within the DMK’s own political alliance. Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), a key ally of the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, has voiced dissatisfaction with the prolonged shutdown. INTUC National Secretary Kathirvelu questioned why copper smelters are permitted to operate in other states, while Sterlite remains closed, despite environmental standards being cited as the reason.
According to INTUC, the closure has resulted in thousands of job losses and the collapse of hundreds of associated businesses that relied on Sterlite’s supply chain.
Industry-Wide Economic Fallout
The economic ripple effect of the plant’s shutdown has extended far beyond its direct employees. On 6 January 2024, the Namakkal Lorry Owners’ and Trailer Owners’ Associations organized protests, stating that over 6,500 trucks were impacted and more than 600 vehicle owners had to find alternative sources of income. Estimated daily losses in the logistics sector reached up to ₹10 crore. Protesters urged the government to consider reopening the plant under stringent environmental safeguards.
In February 2025, the Thoothukudi Contractors’ Association raised similar concerns. They reported that over 20,000 workers had lost employment, and 400 small enterprises saw their revenues plummet by 40%. The association called for a formal Government Order to restart the plant and restore economic balance in the district.
Pushback Against Environmental Narratives
On 13 May 2025, the Thoothukudi People Livelihood Protection Association met with MP Kanimozhi, reiterating the demand for reopening the facility. Their statement pointed out that Sterlite had supported 20,000+ families across 50 villages for over two decades. Around 64 contractors had invested in trucks and equipment solely to service Sterlite’s operations many now face crippling debt, having mortgaged their homes and assets.
Association President S. Thiyagarajan criticized the perception that labeled Thoothukudi as a “cancer capital” due to Sterlite’s presence, citing independent environmental studies that found no conclusive evidence to support such claims. He alleged that this misinformation fueled the protests that led to the closure, with long-term socio-economic consequences.
Political and Economic Repercussions
The shutdown of Sterlite Copper in 2018 propelled by campaigns from fringe outfits and missionary-backed groups was politically capitalized on by the DMK, which then pushed for the plant’s closure. However, in a stark reversal, many locals who once opposed the facility are now advocating for its return.
Meanwhile, Gujarat has seized the opportunity to fill the production vacuum left by Sterlite’s closure, drawing further criticism from stakeholders in Tamil Nadu who argue that the state has lost out on vital industrial opportunities due to political short-sightedness.
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