The Union government has decided to cancel the auction of the Nayakkarpatti tungsten mineral block in Tamil Nadu, following massive protests by villagers. The Union government granted mining rights to Hindustan Zinc Limited in November 2024 for a site in the village near Madurai. The site was declared a biodiversity heritage site in 2022 and houses several rare species of flora and fauna, cave temples, Jain temples, Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, and Panchapandavar stone beds.
A press release from the Union government said that Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy met with Ambalakarars (traditional community leaders) from Madurai on Wednesday, January 22, at New Delhi. The members of the community said that the auction should be cancelled since the area identified for the mineral block also included the Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site and a number of cultural heritage sites.
“After detailed deliberations, considering the importance of the Biodiversity Heritage Site in the area and the commitment of the Government of India under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership towards protecting traditional rights, it has been decided to annul the auction of Nayakkarpatti Tungsten mineral block,” the statement added.
On January 7, thousands of villagers and farmers rallied from Melur to Tallakulam on the National Highway that connects Chennai and Madurai, despite the police having denied permission to protest. The Legislative Assembly had also passed a resolution on December 9, urging the Union government to cancel the mining rights. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai also wrote to the Union government, raising the concerns of the villagers.