The Andhra Pradesh government had given orders to shut down the Zuari Cement factory in the Kadapa District. The AP Pollution Control Board had ordered the closure of the Zuari cement industry for non-compliance with pollution regulations. The power supply to the industry was cut off following the suggestion of the AP government to do so.
The Andhra Pradesh government has now gotten a shock, with the AP High Court dismissing the government’s notice to shut down the factory. The HC dismissed the government’s orders, after hearing the petition filed by Zuari Cements, which decided to fight the government legally. The High Court, hearing the petition filed by Zuari, set aside the orders issued by the Pollution Control Board and directed that the guidelines issued by the APPCB be implemented by the 30th of this month.
Nearly two thousand employees working for Zuari Cements have been relieved following the HC’s orders. On the other hand, the opposition members, belonging to TDP, are saying that there is a lot more to the closure of Zuari Cements than that meets the eye. This is not the first time that the AP government has ordered the closure of a factory, as it has been passing several orders for the shutting down of factories and other establishments related to the Amara Raja group – which is a work renowned manufacturer of Amaron batteries.
The AP government is also receiving massive backlash for shutting down already established industries, and for scaring away new investors, who previously wanted to establish industries in the state.