Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai, on Thursday, hinted at a favourable decision from the Centre regarding the contentious 4,000-acre tungsten mining project in Madurai’s Melur region. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Annamalai described the anticipated development as “happy news” for the people of Tamil Nadu.
After steering a delegation of local village leaders to meet Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, Annamalai highlighted the intense opposition to the project. Local residents, especially from villages near Melur, have been vocal in their protests since Hindustan Zinc Limited won the bid for the tungsten block in November last year. Following this, BJP leaders promptly informed the Union Minister, leading to the project’s suspension.
On Wednesday, the delegation expressed their gratitude to Reddy for halting the project and reiterated their stance that it was “totally not required”. According to Annamalai, the villagers conveyed their belief that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always been pro-farmer and protective of Tamil Nadu.”
“A happy news to the people of Tamil Nadu, especially near Melur – the Nayakkarpatti-Vellalaptti tungsten block will be officially announced tomorrow,” Annamalai said, adding that Reddy would consult with the Prime Minister on the matter. “A very, very happy news will come tomorrow,” he emphasised, noting that the Union Minister had provided an assurance to the visiting delegation.
“We have kept our word that mining won’t happen. Tomorrow, an official announcement will be made,” Annamalai added.
In December, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to cancel mining rights granted to Hindustan Zinc Limited. The project has faced stiff resistance from locals concerned about its environmental and social impact on the regions such as Kavattayampatty, Etti Mangalam, A Vellalapatti, Arittapatti, Kidaripatty, and Narasingampatty.
Among these, Arittapatti, a notified Biodiversity Heritage Site, is particularly significant for its archaeological monuments, including ancient cave temples, Jain symbols, Tamil Brahmi scripts, and Pancha Pandavar stone beds. Stalin warned that mining activities in this area would cause irreparable damage to these heritage sites.
Annamalai also raised questions about the state government’s handling of the issue. He claimed that while the Geological Survey of India (GSI) had flagged the project in a 2021 report, the Tamil Nadu government’s response, though mentioning a biodiversity hotspot in the region, did not include a formal request to halt the project.