Granting permission to tungsten mining without people’s consent is condemnable, says CPI leader Mutharasan

Communist Party of India condemns Union government's tungsten mining rights grant in Madurai, emphasizing public protest importance.

“Union government granting tungsten mining rights to a private company in Madurai without the consent of the public was highly condemnable and unacceptable,” said R. Mutharasan, State secretary, Communist Party of India (CPI), while addressing people at Arittapatti in Madurai district on Saturday. 

When thousands of people living around the earmarked spot were dependent on the fertile land for their livelihood, destroying it in the name of development for the betterment of a private company could not be left unopposed, he said.  

Lauding people for their constant protest against the mining, he said that it was only through protest, any ‘anti-people’ projects could be stopped.  

“It was only after the repeated protests of the people, the State government was pressurised to announce the delta region as a protected special agricultural zone,” Mr. Mutharasan noted.  

Reminiscing people’s protest in 2010 to protect Yanaimalai hillock in Madurai from mining activities, Mr. Mutharasan said that it was the persistence of the people and activists that stopped the State government their nod to continue mining activities at the hillock.   

The mining project was not just the issue of Aritapatti and nearby villages or political parties, it was an environmental issue concerning the entire humankind, he said. 

Commenting on the resolution passed by Tamil Nadu government against the tungsten mining, Mr. Mutharasan asserted that the resolution on behalf of the people would pass a clear message to the Union government.