Seven years after the 2018 police firing that killed 13 protesters against Sterlite’s polluting plant, Thoothukudi is again debating reopening. A feasibility study recommends switching to recycled copper, shutting some polluting sections, and creating an INR 100 crore CSR corpus. Yet local opposition and the city’s unresolved trauma continue to block any easy green light.
A new report warns that fossil fuels harm health across the entire chain—starting with extraction and transport, then worsening as fuels are burned. The damage can begin before birth and persist until death, with the poorest communities facing the greatest risks. It also points to threats from pipeline leaks and major oil spills beyond air pollution alone.
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