The Supreme Court on April 22 termed the COVID-19 situation as almost a “national emergency” while agreeing to hear Vedanta’s plea for the opening of its Sterlite copper unit at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu on the ground that it would produce thousand tonnes of oxygen and give it free of charge to treat patients.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde was unimpressed with the objection of Tamil Nadu government which initially sought hearing of Vedanta''s plea on Monday and opposed its opening on various grounds including that it has been rejected by the apex court earlier.

"We understand all this. We will ensure compliance of all environmental norms by the plant and its oxygen-producing facility would be allowed to operate. We are on the oxygen plant," the bench, also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, said when senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu, objected to the plea of the company.

"There is almost a national emergency and you (Tamil Nadu) don''t put spokes in the solution. We will hear it (plea of Vedanta) tomorrow," the bench said.

 "The country is in dire need of oxygen and the Centre is augmenting oxygen from whichever source. Vedanta wants to make its plant operational, but let Vedanta only make it operational to manufacture oxygen for health purposes," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Vedanta, sought urgent hearing of the plea during the day itself and said people are dying on daily basis and we can produce and supply oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients.

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