Coalition calls to oppose destructive mining, protect resources

Madurai: The Natural Resource Protection Coalition (NRPC), a collective of environmentalists and activists, has condemned the Indian govt's move to forcibly legislate control over Tamil Nadu's natural resources away from the state govt. The coalition also appealed to voters to only support candidates who pledge to protect the environment and firmly oppose destructive projects like hydrocarbon wells and critical mineral mining.R S Mugilan, coordinator of the Tamil Nadu Environmental Protection Movement, highlighted that approximately two lakh acres of land in Tamil Nadu have been slated for mining auctions. While public pressure forced the cancellation of the 5,000-acre Nayakkar Patti tungsten project in Madurai, the other projects remain active and open for auction. Mugilan expressed concern over new central govt mandates that bypass the need for public hearings when private companies extract 30 types of critical and nuclear minerals. This policy shift, according to Mugilan, strips Tamil Nadu of its fundamental rights, displaces local communities, and risks awarding contracts to private entities with a history of "anti-people activities."Mugilan also noted that major political parties like the DMK and AIADMK have failed to address the loss of state mineral rights or the absence of public hearings in their election manifestos. In response, 35 village panchayats passed resolutions in early 2025 demanding that Madurai be declared an archaeological protection zone and the Mullaperiyar irrigation area a protected agricultural zone.Mugilan suggested a state-run model for all quarries and mines, similar to Tasmac.The NRPC also emphasised the need for safety and the protection of those standing against "mineral mafias."