CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday opposed the awarding of tungsten mining rights in Madurai district by the union government to a private firm, saying that the Tamil Nadu government will never permit any mining activity in Arittapatti and its surrounding areas considering the site’s biodiversity heritage status and opposition from the local residents.
A notified biodiversity heritage site falls under one of the areas proposed for mining, and commercial mining in densely populated villages will affect the people who fear that their livelihood may be lost forever, Stalin said in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The CM urged the PM to revoke the award of tungsten mining rights and direct the Ministry of Mines to desist from inviting bids for mining without the consent of the state government.
“The Union Ministry of Mines has declared Hindustan Zinc Limited as the preferred bidder for the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten block (classified as a Critical and Strategic Mineral) under Tranche IV on November 7.
The block includes villages such as Kavattayampatti, Ettimangalam, A Vellalapatti, Arittapatti, Kidaripatty, and Narasingampatti. Among these, Arittapatti is a notified biodiversity heritage site, renowned for its archaeological monuments, including cave temples, sculptures, Jain symbols, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, and Pancha Pandavar stone beds. Any mining activity would cause irreparable damage to these sites,” Stalin said in his letter.
The CM emphasised the severe impact of mining on the populated villages. He stated it caused immense distress to residents who fear the permanent loss of their livelihood. He directly attributed the ongoing unrest in Madurai to the centre’s decision to award tungsten mining rights and urgently requested the PM to intervene and reconsider the move.
CM Stalin staging a drama by writing to PM, says EPS
“We had already expressed our concern regarding the auctioning of mining rights through a letter dated October 3, 2023, from our Minister for Water Resources and Natural Resources.
However, the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, in his response dated November 2, 2023, rejected these concerns,” Stalin added.
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami slammed the DMK government on the issue. Speaking to reporters in Salem district, he said the CM was staging a drama by writing a letter to the PM.
“People at Naickanpatti in Melur taluk have been staging protests against the project. In a letter dated October 2023, DMK government sought the centre’s permission for tungsten mining in the village.
After the people started protesting the move, now Stalin is staging a drama,” he said. EPS also cited the TNIE report ‘TN seeks centre’s approval to mine two critical minerals’ dated October 18, 2023.