After the Centre cancelled the auction of the Nayakkarpatti tungsten mining mineral block in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin celebrated the decision and claimed it was a victory for the people of the state. He stated that the union government had bowed to the protests and opposition from the Tamil Nadu government and its citizens.
At an event in Arittapatti to mark the cancellation, Stalin said, "We opposed this from the beginning, but some, for political reasons, spread false information to hide the truth. However, after seeing the people’s protests and the state’s opposition, the Centre cancelled the auction."
Before the auction was cancelled, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, met with community leaders from Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district to discuss the potential environmental risks of mining in the region.
Stalin added, "The Union Government planned to go ahead with tungsten mining, but we stopped it using the power of the people."
Issue arises from new law
The DMK chief explained that the issue began with a law passed by Parliament that allowed the Union Government to auction important mineral blocks without needing permission from state governments. Stalin said, "This law allowed the Union Government to bypass the state’s approval, which is why this issue arose."
Stalin also pointed out that while the DMK and its allies opposed this law, the opposition party AIADMK supported it. He claimed that AIADMK leader Thambiduri spoke in favor of the law when it was passed.
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Protests lead to cancellation
The Nayakkarpatti tungsten mineral block auction was first announced in February 2024, with Hindustan Zinc Limited winning the bid in November 2024. However, the decision sparked large protests in Tamil Nadu, with the state assembly passing a resolution in December 2024 condemning the move.
Environmental and cultural concerns fueled the opposition to the auction of critical mineral blocks, including the Nayakkarpatti tungsten block, which the Centre had hailed as a valuable national asset.
Also Read: Stalin hails Centre's decision of annulling Tungsten mining
Call for state consent
Stalin further urged the Union Government to ensure that mining auctions are not held without the consent of the state government. He also criticized AIADMK for supporting laws that weaken the state’s rights. "The Centre should not issue mining auction notifications without the state's approval," Stalin emphasised.
The cancellation of the auction marked a significant victory for the people of Tamil Nadu and highlighted the state's strong opposition to central policies affecting its resources.
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