Madurai tungsten mining: Centre decides to annul auction of mineral block at Nayakkarpatti

Union Ministry of Mines cancels auction of tungsten mineral block in Madurai district after community protest and government resolution.

The Union Ministry of Mines on Thursday (January 23, 2025) announced that it has decided to annul the auction of tungsten mineral block at Nayakkarpatti in Madurai district.

It may be recalled that locals had carried out a massive rally in Madurai district against the proposal and the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had last month unanimously adopted a special resolution urging the Union government to immediately cancel the tungsten mining rights granted.

The decision followed considerations about the importance of the biodiversity heritage site in the area and the commitment of the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership towards protecting traditional rights, an official release said.

The Government of India’s decision followed a meeting of the traditional Ambalakarar community leaders from Madurai district with Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on January 22.

The community leaders had informed the Union Minister that the Nayakkarpatti tungsten mineral block, included the Arittapatti biodiversity heritage site and a number of cultural heritage sites. They requested the Union Minister to cancel the auction of the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten block.

During a debate on the issue in the Assembly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had asserted that his government would not permit the proposal as long as he held the post.