Stalin to move resolution in Tamil Nadu Assembly against tungsten mining license to Vedanta

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin will move a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on December 9 urging the Union Government to cancel the rights awarded to Hindustan Zinc Limited to mine tungsten in Madurai district.

The auction, which was conducted by the Union Ministry of Mines on November 7, has become the latest flashpoint between the DMK dispensation in Tamil Nadu and the Centre. 

Assembly Speaker M Appavu told reporters on Monday that the two-day session will begin on December 9 with Stalin moving the resolution against the mining block and urging the Union Ministry of Mines to desist from floating bids for mining with the consent of the respective state government.

“A government resolution will be moved to cancel the licence awarded to Hindustan Zinc Limited for mining tungsten in Madurai district,” the schedule released by the Assembly Secretariat said. The decision to move a resolution in the assembly comes days after protests broke out in Melur in Madurai against the Vedanta-owned company being awarded the licence to mine tungsten in an ecologically-sensitive zone. 

The protests prompted Stalin to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring that his government would never allow any such mining to be undertaken in Melur district in Madurai. The mining block is located close to Arittapatti, Tamil Nadu’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site, which is one of the reasons for the opposition to the project. 

 Stalin’s letter prompted the Union Ministry of Mines to clarify that inputs were taken up from the state government before the block was taken up for auction. 

“As per the information available, out of the total area of 20.16 sq. km, only 1.93 sq. km within Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site,” the ministry said, adding that there was no opposition to the auction from the state government from February when the auction was proposed to November when the process was completed.  

“Nor did the State Government request the Central Government to drop the block from auction,” the ministry said, adding that this block has been auctioned as a composite licence block, which means that the block has been partially explored and the successful bidder will have to carry out exploration in the block before mining lease is granted. 

It also said necessary forest clearance and environmental clearance are required to be obtained as per norms and any area which is not agreed to by the Union Ministry of Environment is not included in the mining lease area.

 Arittapatti consists of a chain of seven barren granite hillocks and a distinctive landscape of rocky hills that acts as a watershed, supporting 72 lakes, 200 natural spring pools, and 3 check dams. 

Hillocks in Arittapatti village have rich biological and historical significance with the presence of around 250 bird species, including 3 flagship Raptor species – Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger), Shaheen Falcon (Falco peregrines), and Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata). The village also features various megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jain Beds, and 2200-year-old rock-cut temples. 

A summary of the mineral block accessed by DH says the mines are located in Kulanipatti and Melur villages in Melur taluk and that the area is characterised by plain topography except some hillocks and elongated hills.