Won’t allow tungsten mining, centre must retract nod: CM Stalin to PM Modi

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. 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.