In view of oxygen shortage in the state amid surge in Covid cases, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday allowed Vedanta's sealed Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi to operate for the production of medical oxygen.

Closed since 2018 over pollution concerns, the Sterlite plant has been allowed to operate only for four months for medical oxygen production.  While granting the permission, the state government asked the Sterlite plant not to be involved in the production of copper or any other material.