NEW DELHI: The Central  Pollution Control Board and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on Monday differed before the Supreme Court over the alleged pollution by Sterlite Industries copper smelting plant at Tuticorin in the state. 

Counsels appearing for the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) informed the apex court that Sterlite Industries has failed to comply with its direction to make appropriate measures for storage of raw materials,solid waste disposal,controlling over fugitive gaseous emissions and to develop a green belt of 75% as per licence conditions. 

According to TNPCB,as per the conditions of permission to set and run the plant,Sterlite has developed only 25% green belt in the areas and its solid waste disposal was not good. 

However,contrary to it,the Central Pollution Control Board said that it was in favour of the plant and submitted in its affidavit that its waste water analysis report showed that all parameters are within limit and pollutants were found within the notified air quality standards.Observing it,a bench comprising justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik directed Sterlite and CPCB to file their affidavit over the specific issue raised by TNPCB within three weeks. 

Meanwhile,the bench further said that the interim stay granted over the stay over the Madras High Court order directing Sterlite Industries to close its copper smelting plant would continue till February 25,next date of hearing. 

Interim stay will continue till next date of hearing, said the bench extending the interim stay granted by it on October 1,2010.It also asked the ministry of environment and forest to file its counter. 

The apex courts direction came over a petition filed by Sterlite Industries,a subsidiary of UK-based Vedanta Group,against the order of the high court,which on September 28 ordered shutting down of the smelting plant for not complying with environmental norms. 

The company,in a special leave petition against the order,had claimed that the high court did not give it a proper hearing and ignored its submissions. 

The high court had held that Sterlites plant was within 25 km of an ecologically fragile area and the company has failed to develop a 250-metre wide green belt around the plant.