Anti-nuclear activists and fishermen blocked the approach channel to the VOC Port in Thoothukudi, one of the major ports in the country, on Saturday, opposing the loading of fuel in the first unit of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) and demanding the closure of the plant.
Around 4,000 fishermen and anti-KKNPP activists aboard 250 mechanised boats, 700 country craft and 300 fibre boats, catamarans from Thoothukudi and neighbouring Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, blocked the 183 metre-wide approach channel to the VOC Port, five nautical miles away from Thoothukudi fishing harbour, thereby preventing entry and exit of ships.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, who were in charge of the port’s security, tied a rope across the gateway, so that the protesters could not proceed further into the port. Behind the rope, the port’s tractor and towing tugs had been lined up along with CISF patrolling vessels, thus barring entry to the protestors. Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Coastal Security Group vessels also patrolled the coast and periphery of the harbour.
Apart from this, an ICG aircraft was engaged in aerial surveillance. The protest, which started around 9 am continued till 1 pm, and the agitators who remained in the sea, shouted slogans against the nuclear power plant and loading of fuel in the reactor. The protestors also raised slogans against the Central and State governments for giving the nod to the project. All the boats hoisted national flag on the front while black flags were hoisted on the rear side of the boats in view of the protest.
A group of anti-nuclear activists also organised a human chain in Thoothukudi town. Coastal hamlets, old port and the fishing harbour were under security blanket.
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