Stalin writes to Modi opposing auction of three coal blocks in Cauvery delta
The Hindu
Chief Minister Stalin pointed out that two blocks in Tamil Nadu fall within the zone protected under the Tamil Nadu Protected Agriculture Zone Development Act, 2020, and the other was in a major paddy growing area
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to exclude the Cauvery delta areas from the bidding for coal blocks. He pointed out that two blocks in the State fall within the zone protected under the Tamil Nadu Protected Agriculture Zone Development Act, 2020, and the other block was in a major paddy growing area.
Neither was the concurrence of the Tamil Nadu government obtained before the tender was floated, nor was the State consulted in this matter, he pointed out. “It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Coal has proceeded unilaterally with no consultation with the States in such a sensitive matter,” he said.
The Ministry of Coal has put up 101 blocks across the country for auction and three of them are in Tamil Nadu — East of Sethiathope, Michaelpatti and Vadaseri. They happen to fall within the Protected Agricultural Zone.
Mr. Stalin added that this issue has the potential to cause “considerable disquiet” in the Cauvery delta areas, which constitutes the main food producing area for the State.
Pointing out that the present tender conditions included the exploitation of coal-bed methane and hence were covered within the prohibition of the 2020 Act, Mr. Stalin contended that it implied that even if the tender process was conducted and a successful bidder identified, it would not be possible to take up the mining project.
“Hence, the auction process is a wasteful exercise in so far as the identified blocks in Tamil Nadu are concerned. Had the State government been consulted prior to the issue of the notification, these issues could have been clarified and the unnecessary disquiet caused by the issue of the notification for auction could have been avoided,” he explained.
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