The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Saturday ordered closure of Sterlite Industries Ltd.’s copper smelter unit in Tuticorin, in the wake of alleged noxious gas leak from it. The TNPCB, under instructions from District Collector Ashish Kumar, issued a notice directing the Vedanta group company to close the plant, officials said.

Company officials said they have started shutting down the operations of the unit complying with the TNPCB order, which came a week after an unspecified gas allegedly leaked in the area on March 23.