Residents of Usithoppu village near Vaniyambadi town in Tirupattur district blocked a key road stretch on January 30, protesting nonstop lorry trips to a private stone quarry and tar plant. Most protesters are farmers and traders. The stone quarry has operated for years, but locals want it closed due to damage to farmlands, water bodies, and village roads. K. Pari, a farmer, said, "The lives of schoolchildren and senior citizens are at risk while using the village main road due to the continuous operation of lorries to the quarry. Collector should take steps to regulate the operation of the quarry or to close it permanently." Usithoppu is a large farming village with over 3,500 acres under cultivation and around 8,000 voters. Farmers rely on two lakes and ponds to recharge groundwater. Residents say the quarry and tar plant pollute water bodies and damage the water table. Frequent lorry traffic has broken a newly-laid road. Noise from regular blasts at the quarry disturbs children and senior citizens. Stone fragments sometimes fall into farmlands, risking farmers’ lives. Bus services have been reduced, and ambulances must take a 5 km detour to reach the village. TNPCB officials state about 100 stone quarries operate in Tirupattur district, mainly in Ambur, Kandali, Jolarpet, Natrampalli, and Tirupattur. At 8:30 a.m., residents blocked the road towards Vaniyambadi town demanding proper regulation of lorry movements. Revenue officials and Vaniyambadi Town police arrived promptly and pacified the protesters, who dispersed peacefully after receiving officials' assurances.