While Sterlite Industries is in the process of reopening its copper smelter in Tamil Nadu following the verdict of National Green Tribunal (NGT), some reports indicate that a local authority appealed against the judgement in the Supreme Court.

The tribunal allowed the firm to reopen the smelter under the monitoring of a court-appointed panel.

The smelter, which produces more than half of India's total refined copper, remained shut for around two months following the order of the local pollution board.

The board passed the order at the end of March after complaints of emission of harmful gas from the unit.

The facility uses imported concentrates and produces 30,000 tonne of refined copper a month. Its closure has squeezed domestic copper supplies and boosted imports. Traders said any delay to a restart would be "more misery for Indian copper consumers".

Copper rod is sold at a premium of $220 owing to shortage of the commodity, reports indicate. A routine shutdown of Hindalco Industries' Birla smelter, India's second largest, has exacerbated the shortage of copper mainly for India's cable industry.