Centre auctions tungsten mine block in eco-sensitive region in Tamil Nadu; activists urge CM to revoke permission

Chennai: Vedanta, whose sprawling copper smelter in Thoothukudi remains shut for the past six years on charges of polluting areas around it, is back in the news in Tamil Nadu. The conglomerate’s subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc Limited, has won an auction to mine tungsten in about 2015.51 hectares (5,000 acres) of land in Madurai district.

The development has kicked up a row with the block chosen by the Union Ministry of Mines to unearth tungsten close to Arittapatti, which was notified as the first Biodiversity Heritage Site of Tamil Nadu in 2022.

Activists and villagers have taken objection to mining of tungsten in the ecologically sensitive zone with Arittapatti consisting of a chain of seven barren granite hillocks and the distinctive landscape of rocky hills acting as a watershed, supporting 72 lakes, 200 natural spring pools, and 3 check dams. The block consists of about 10 villages, including Arittapatti.

Tungsten is a refractory metal which has a wide application in defence and medical industries.

Hillocks in Arittapatti village have rich biological and historical significance with the presence of around 250 bird species, including 3 flagship Raptor species – Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger), Shaheen Falcon (Falco peregrines), and Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata). The village also features various megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jain Beds, and 2200-year-old rock-cut temples.

In a statement issued on November 7, the Union Ministry of Mines said Hindustan Zinc Limited has bagged the contract to mine tungsten in Nayakkarpatti Tungsten block in Tamil Nadu and Balepalyam Tungsten and Associated Mineral Block in Andhra Pradesh.

A summary of the mineral block accessed by DH says the mines are located in Kulanipatti and Melur villages in Melur taluk and that the area is characterised by plain topography except some hillocks and elongated hills.

A group of villagers and activists met Madurai Collector M S Sangeetha and urged her to impress upon the state government not to grant permission for mining of tungsten in the district. Besides the mining block located near an ecologically sensitive zone, the activists also took objection to Vedanta “entering” the state yet again.

The opposition to the project comes weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Vedanta’s plea to reopen the now-shut copper smelter owned by its subsidiary Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi. The factory was shut in May 2018 after massive protests against the company’s expansion ended in the killing of 13 civilians by the police who fired indiscriminately against the agitators.

Poovulagin Nanbargal, an environment protection NGO, on Tuesday demanded that the Union Government cancel the licence given to Vedanta group for mining of tungsten keeping in mind the ecological concerns.

“Arittapatti is not just an ecologically sensitive zone but a historically significant place in Tamil Nadu. The Union Government should stop mining activities in the region,” its convenor G Sundarrajan said.

“Please don’t let Vedanta yet again in Tamil Nadu. The company which has blood on its hand (Thoothukudi police firing) should never be allowed in the state,” Sundarrajan said in an appeal to Chief Minister M K Stalin.