The trucks were blocked one after another, between 10.30pm and 11pm.

TUTICORIN: Activists and villagers , who are demanding closure of Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin , on Tuesday night blocked three trucks that were carrying tonnes of raw material ( ore ) to the plant.

The protesters alleged that the plant was functioning despite not receiving clearance from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

V Ramachandran, an activist, told TOI that a vessel with 12,000 tonne of ore had come to Tuticorin port. The ore had to be transported to Sterlite in hundreds of trucks. “We received information about it late on Tuesday evening and informed the district collector, the superintendent of police and a senior TNPCB official in Tuticorin via WhatsApp and also lodged an online complaint around 8.30pm,” he said.

Ramachandran alleged that there was no action on the same and eight trucks made their way into the plant till 10.30pm. “We came to know that eight more trucks were ready with the ore and were about to be transported to the plant. Around 50 people stopped the trucks near the gate through which they was about to enter the plant premises,” he added.

The trucks were blocked one after another, between 10.30pm and 11pm.

The SIPCOT police held talks with the protesters, after which the trucks were taken to the police station.

On Wednesday protesters picketed the office of the company (Seapol) that is transporting ore to Sterlite.

During a demonstration in front of the office of the company in the V O Chidambaranar Port Trust premises, the protesters warned that they would block the trucks carrying ore if the company continued transporting it to the plant. They also petitioned the deputy chairman of the port over the issue.

A company representative denied allegations that they had resumed production. “The smelter work is yet to be completed, due to which it is impossible to resume production,” he said and added that they were transporting raw materials to the storage facility inside the plant.

He said the government had not clamped down other activities of the plant such as importing raw materials and exporting finished products.

