3 Coal Blocks In Tamil Nadu Not To Be Auctioned; Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Says Decision Taken After Matter Brought To Notice By Annamalai

Union Coal minister Pralhad Joshi has said that three coal mines in the state that were to be auctioned, i.e., East of Sethiathope, Vadaseri and Michaelpatti have been excluded from the list.

He said that the decision was taken after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai and Tamil Nadu BJP in-charge CT Ravi met him and informed him that while the two of the mines fell under the Tamil Nadu Protected Agriculture Zone Development Act, 2020, the other was a major paddy growing area.

According to the Act, a number of industrial activities like exploration, drilling and extraction of oil and natural gas including coal-bed methane, shale gas and other similar hydrocarbons, zinc smelter, copper smelter and iron ore process plants are not allowed in the zone.

The Protected Zone covers the districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts and some blocks of Cuddalore and Pudukkottai districts.

The issue of the auction of these mines had become a major political issue in the state and several MLAs spoke against it in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to the Prime Minister.

While agreeing that mining in the areas mentioned would adversely affect farmers, Annamalai said that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had earlier agreed to allow the exploration and extraction of coal bed methane gas in Mannargudi (which falls in the protected region) and signed an MoU with Great Eastern Energy Corporation in 2011.

The Tamil Nadu BJP has thanked Joshi for the decision.

Also Read: TN: ‘DMK Govt Had Earlier Agreed To Coal Bed Methane Extraction In Delta Region's Mannargudi', Says Annamalai While Requesting Centre Not To Go Ahead With Auction Of 3 Coal Blocks In State